Banana Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe

Banana Chocolate Chip Bars are a delicious and moist dessert or snack that combines the sweetness of ripe bananas with the rich, melty goodness of chocolate chips. They’re a perfect way to use up overripe bananas and are loved by both kids and adults alike. These bars are soft, chewy, and the perfect balance of sweetness and texture. Plus, they’re incredibly simple to make with basic ingredients you likely have in your pantry!

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars after baking.

Step 2: Prepare Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using). Set this aside as your dry mixture. The cinnamon adds a lovely warmth to the bars, complementing the bananas and chocolate chips.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the unsalted butter and brown sugar together. Beat on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes, until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step helps incorporate air into the mixture, which is key to achieving a soft and moist bar.

Step 4: Add the Bananas, Egg, and Vanilla

Add the mashed ripe bananas, egg, and vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Beat until fully combined. The mashed bananas will provide moisture, flavor, and natural sweetness to the bars, making them both tender and flavorful.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing gently to combine. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as that can lead to dense bars. Mix until just combined, ensuring that there are no streaks of flour remaining.

Step 6: Fold in the Chocolate Chips

Fold in the chocolate chips gently using a spatula or wooden spoon. You can add as many or as few chocolate chips as you like, but for a classic chocolatey experience, 1 cup is the sweet spot. If you’re using nuts or other toppings, you can fold them in at this stage as well.

Step 7: Pour into the Pan

Spread the batter evenly into the prepared 9×9-inch baking pan. Use a spatula to smooth the top and ensure it’s evenly distributed.

Step 8: Bake the Bars

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. The bars are done when the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Keep an eye on them towards the end of baking to avoid overcooking.

Step 9: Cool and Serve

Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for about 10-15 minutes. Once slightly cooled, transfer the bars to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from becoming soggy from excess moisture in the pan. Once cool, slice them into squares (about 16 bars).

Tips for Success:

1. Choosing Ripe Bananas: The riper your bananas, the better! Overripe bananas, those with lots of brown spots, are the perfect choice for this recipe. They add extra sweetness and flavor to the bars. In fact, if you’re like most people and often have bananas ripen faster than you can eat them, this is a great recipe for using them up.
2. Banana Substitutes: If you don’t have bananas or need an alternative, you can try using unsweetened applesauce, pumpkin puree, or mashed sweet potato. However, the banana flavor is truly the star of this recipe.
3. Use Room Temperature Butter: This helps the butter mix more evenly with the sugar and gives you a smoother batter. Cold butter can lead to lumpy mixtures and uneven texture.
4. Don’t Overmix: When you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can make the bars tough.
5. Add-ins: You can experiment with different mix-ins. Consider adding nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds for added texture. If you’re into coconut, shredded unsweetened coconut is another great option. Or, for a salty-sweet flavor combination, a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking is a great touch.

Variations:

1. Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Bars:
To make these bars vegan, substitute the butter for vegan butter or coconut oil. Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water, let sit for a few minutes to thicken) instead of the egg. Ensure that your chocolate chips are dairy-free as well.

2. Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chip Bars:
To make the recipe gluten-free, swap out the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. You may need to add a little extra moisture (like an additional banana or tablespoon of milk) to get the right batter consistency.

3. Lower Sugar Version:
If you want to reduce the sugar, you can cut back on the brown sugar by 1/4 cup, and replace some of it with a healthier sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or stevia. Just keep in mind that the flavor and texture might vary slightly.

4. Double Chocolate Banana Bars:
For the ultimate chocolate lover, add cocoa powder (about 1/4 cup) to the dry ingredients and increase the chocolate chips to 1 1/2 cups. These bars will be extra rich and decadent!

Healthier Alternatives:

Although these bars are indulgent, you can modify them to be a bit healthier:

• Reduce the sugar: You can use less sugar or try a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup. These alternatives may affect the texture slightly, but they provide a healthier option without compromising flavor.
• Use whole wheat flour: Replace some or all of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. This adds fiber and nutrients. Keep in mind that whole wheat flour can make the bars denser.
• Use almond or oat flour: For gluten-free bars, or simply to add more protein, you can use almond or oat flour as a substitute. These flours tend to make the bars slightly denser but add a nutty flavor.

FAQs:

Can I make these bars without chocolate chips?
Yes! You can omit the chocolate chips entirely or substitute them with other mix-ins like dried fruit, chopped nuts, or a swirl of peanut butter.

How do I know when the bars are done baking?
The bars should be golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. If the toothpick comes out wet with batter, they need a few more minutes.

What if my bananas aren’t ripe enough?
If your bananas aren’t overly ripe, you can speed up the ripening process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple. The ethylene gas from the apple will help ripen the bananas faster. Alternatively, you can place the bananas on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven at 300°F for about 15 minutes until they are soft and brown.

Conclusion:

Banana Chocolate Chip Bars are an easy and delightful treat that brings together the best of bananas and chocolate in a simple, satisfying dessert. Whether you’re baking for a party, a snack, or simply want to use up ripe bananas, these bars are perfect for almost any occasion. With endless variations and ways to make them your own, this recipe is a must-try in every home baker’s repertoire.

Yield: 16-17 Bars

Banana Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe

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Banana Chocolate Chip Bars are a delicious and moist dessert or snack that combines the sweetness of ripe bananas with the rich, melty goodness of chocolate chips. They’re a perfect way to use up overripe bananas and are loved by both kids and adults alike. These bars are soft, chewy, and the perfect balance of sweetness and texture. Plus, they’re incredibly simple to make with basic ingredients you likely have in your pantry!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Mash the bananas in a bowl until smooth. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and sugar. Stir well until combined.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture, whisking until smooth.
5. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt together.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to over-mix.
7. Fold in the mashed bananas and chocolate chips, ensuring they're evenly distributed throughout the batter.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs).
10. Cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then cut into squares and enjoy!

Notes

• These bars are great for using up overripe bananas.
• You can substitute the chocolate chips with other mix-ins like chopped nuts, dried fruit, or butterscotch chips.
• For a gooey, fudgy texture, underbake slightly, and let the bars set for a few minutes before cutting.