Description
These soft, chocolatey banana bars blur the line between tender banana bread and dense brownies. Each bite delivers mellow banana sweetness layered with cocoa richness, creating a dessert that feels indulgent without being heavy. They’re simple to prepare, forgiving for beginners, and satisfying enough to keep both banana fans and chocolate lovers happy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ripe medium bananas
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish or line it with parchment so the bars lift out easily later.
- Mash the bananas: In a large bowl, crush the bananas with a fork until mostly smooth. A few small lumps are fine — they add texture.
- Combine wet ingredients: Stir the sugars and melted butter into the bananas until glossy and blended. Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing until the batter looks smooth and cohesive.
- Mix dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute everything.
- Bring it together: Gently fold the dry mixture into the banana batter using a spatula. Mix only until no dry pockets remain — overmixing can make the bars dense.
- Add chocolate (optional): Fold in chocolate chips if you want extra pockets of melted chocolate.
- Bake: Spread the batter evenly in the pan. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center shows a few moist crumbs.
- Cool: Let the bars rest in the pan for roughly 10 minutes before moving them to a rack to cool completely. This helps them set without drying out.
Notes
- For stronger banana flavor, add a little extra mashed banana and slightly reduce the butter so the texture stays balanced.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days at room temperature, or refrigerate for about a week.
- These bars taste great warm, at room temp, or paired with ice cream for a richer dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Calories: 180 kcal