Description
Sweet banana chocolate chip bars bring comfort and joy to dessert lovers seeking a delightful treat. Homemade goodness meets classic flavors, offering you a perfect blend of moist banana and rich chocolate in each irresistible bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup mashed overripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the baking workspace by setting the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and lining an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper, lightly coating with nonstick spray.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip the softened butter and brown sugar together until the mixture becomes airy and pale, creating a smooth texture that takes approximately 2 minutes.
- Introduce the egg, vanilla extract, and salt to the butter mixture, blending thoroughly until all ingredients are seamlessly integrated.
- Carefully fold the flour into the wet ingredients, ensuring minimal stirring to maintain a tender consistency and prevent overworking the batter.
- Gently incorporate the mashed bananas, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture, then fold in three-quarters of the chocolate chips, creating a rich and textured base.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula to create an even layer, then sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips across the top for additional visual appeal and flavor.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 33-37 minutes, monitoring until the edges turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center reveals only a few moist crumbs.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely within the pan, which helps them set and makes cutting into 16 uniform squares easier and cleaner.
Notes
- Ripe bananas work best for maximum sweetness and moisture in the bars, so look for bananas with plenty of brown spots.
- Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough, dense bars; mix ingredients just until they are combined.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to maintain the same texture.
- Consider adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for extra crunch and a complementary flavor profile to the chocolate and banana.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg