Description
These Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are a deliciously moist and flavorful treat combining the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with rich chocolate chips. Easy to prepare and perfect for any occasion, these bars offer a soft texture and delightful taste that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
- 1 large egg, room temperature (56g)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (6g)
- 1 cup mashed overripe banana, about 2 large bananas (250g)
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200g)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
Add-ins
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips, chopped (125g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking your bars evenly.
- Prepare the baking pan: Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent the bars from sticking after baking.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and packed light brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add egg, vanilla, and salt: Mix in the egg, vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste), and fine salt until everything is thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Fold in bananas and flour: Gently fold the mashed bananas and all-purpose flour into the wet ingredients until just combined to keep the batter tender.
- Add chocolate chips: Stir in the chopped chocolate chips evenly throughout the batter to ensure every bar has a sweet chocolatey bite.
- Bake the bars: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Let the bars cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before cutting them into squares to serve.
Notes
- Make sure the bananas are overripe for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- You can substitute chocolate chips with chopped nuts or dried fruit for a different texture.
- Storing the bars in an airtight container at room temperature will keep them fresh for 2-3 days.
- For a dairy-free option, replace butter with coconut oil or a vegan butter substitute.
- Ensure not to overmix the batter once the flour is added to maintain a tender crumb.
