Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
These Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are a delicious blend of banana bread and chewy cookies, easy to make and perfect for lunches or brunch.
Ingredients
For the Banana Bars
- 3 pieces ripe bananas Use very ripe bananas with brown speckles for sweetness.
- 1/3 cup melted butter Butter gives a richer flavor.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda Acts as a leavening agent.
- pinch salt Enhances flavor.
- 3/4 cup sugar Brown sugar adds a deeper flavor.
- 1 large egg For binding and moisture.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For flavor.
- 1 cup all-purpose flour Can be substituted with a gluten-free blend.
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips Mini chips distribute more evenly.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment.
- In a medium bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth; a few small lumps are fine.
- Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas until evenly combined.
- Add the baking soda and a pinch of salt, mixing briefly to incorporate.
- Stir in the sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla until the mixture is glossy.
- Sprinkle the flour over the wet ingredients and fold in gently, stopping as soon as no dry streaks remain.
- Fold in the chocolate chips, reserving a few to scatter on top if desired.
Baking
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Bars are done when golden and a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then lift out and cut into bars.
Notes
For added flavor, swap 1/4 cup brown sugar + 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Try folding in 1/3 cup shredded coconut or adding spices. Storage: Keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature, 1 week in the fridge, or up to 3 months in the freezer.