Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

These Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are a delightful twist on classic banana blondies! Moist, tender, and bursting with flavor, they’re the perfect way to use up overripe bananas. Here’s how to whip up this delicious treat:

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
• 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar (200g)
• 1 large egg, room temperature (56g)
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract (6g)
• ½ tsp fine salt (3g)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
• 1 cup mashed overripe banana (about 2 large bananas) (250g)
• ¾ cup chocolate chips, chopped (125g)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the ½ cup unsalted butter and 1 cup brown sugar using a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is lighter in color. You can also do this by hand with a whisk if your butter is very soft.
3. Add Egg and Flavorings: Add in the 1 large egg, 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract, and ½ tsp fine salt. Mix on medium-low speed until fully combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
4. Incorporate Flour: Gradually mix in 1 cup all-purpose flour on low speed until just combined.
5. Fold in Banana and Chocolate: Gently fold in 1 cup mashed banana until fully incorporated. Then, fold in ¾ cup chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on top before baking.
6. Prepare for Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips on top.
7. Bake: Bake for 33-37 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Rotate the pan halfway through baking to ensure even cooking.
8. Cool and Slice: Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack. Once completely cool, gently lift the bars from the pan and cut into 16 squares using a sharp, warm knife for clean cuts.
9. Storage: These bars can be kept at room temperature for a few days or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Enjoy these delicious Chocolate Chip Banana Bars as a snack or dessert—everyone will love them! 🍌🍫