Description
Deliciously soft and chewy banana chocolate chip bars that are perfect for dessert or a sweet snack!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200g)
- 1 large egg, room temperature (56g)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste (6g)
- 1/2 tsp fine salt (3g)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (125g)
- 1 cup mashed overripe banana – about 2 large bananas (250g)
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips, chopped (125g)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the unsalted butter and light brown sugar. Mix on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes until the mixture lightens in color. If mixing by hand, ensure the butter is very soft to ease blending.
- Add the large egg, vanilla extract, and fine salt to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix on medium-low speed until fully combined. Scrape down the bowl sides and bottom with a spatula as needed for an even mix.
- Add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined, avoiding overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Gently fold in the mashed overripe bananas until evenly incorporated into the batter.
- Fold in most of the chopped chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on top just before baking.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips evenly over the top.
- Bake for 33 to 37 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Rotate the pan halfway through baking for even cooking.
- Remove the pan from the oven and let cool on a wire rack. Once completely cooled, carefully lift bars from the pan using the parchment paper and cut into 16 squares with a sharp, warmed knife, wiping the blade between cuts for clean slices.
- Store the bars at room temperature for a few days or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Notes
- Ensure butter is very soft for easy blending.
- Rotating the pan halfway through baking helps with even cooking.
- Use a warmed knife for cutting to get clean slices.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 37 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square