Chocolate Chip Banana Bars (Moist, Delicious, and Easy!)

These Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are the perfect way to use up those overripe bananas! They’re moist, flavorful, and packed with both banana and chocolate chips, creating a delicious and satisfying treat. I love how this recipe is easy to make, and the bars are perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. They’re like a cross between banana bread and a chocolate chip cookie, and they’re absolutely irresistible!

Why You’ll Love These Banana Bars

• Moist and Flavorful: The combination of mashed bananas, brown sugar, and butter creates a moist and flavorful bar.
• Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
• Perfect for Overripe Bananas: A great way to use up those overripe bananas that are sitting on your counter.
• Chocolate Chip Goodness: Loaded with chocolate chips for extra sweetness and deliciousness.
• Versatile: Enjoy them for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious bars. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Main Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, room temperature (Fat)
• Packed light or dark brown sugar (Sweetener)
• Large egg, room temperature (Binder)
• Vanilla extract (Flavoring)
• Fine salt (Seasoning)
• All-purpose flour (Dry Ingredient)
• Mashed overripe banana (Fruit)
• Chocolate chips, chopped (Chocolate)

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)

Variations

I love these Chocolate Chip Banana Bars as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:

• Add Nuts: Stir in some chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for added crunch.
• Different Chocolate: Use white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or a mix of different types of chocolate.
• Add Spices: Add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to the batter.
• Make them Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
• Frosting: Top the cooled bars with a cream cheese frosting or a chocolate ganache.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

Let me show you how easy it is to make these Chocolate Chip Banana Bars:

Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan

1. I preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. I line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. I set it aside.

Cream Butter and Sugar

1. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, I cream together the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar with a stand mixer or hand mixer.
2. I mix on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, until the mixture becomes lighter in color. You can also make this batter by hand with a whisk, but the butter will need to be quite soft.

Add Egg, Vanilla, and Salt

1. I add in the large egg, vanilla extract, and fine salt.
2. I mix on medium-low speed until combined.
3. I scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula.

Add Flour

1. I mix in the all-purpose flour and mix on low until just combined.

Fold in Bananas and Chocolate Chips

1. I fold the mashed banana into the batter until they’re fully incorporated.
2. Then, I fold in most of the chocolate chips, saving a few to sprinkle on top of the batter before they’re baked.

Bake

1. I pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle a few additional bits of chocolate on top.
2. I bake for 33-37 minutes, until the edges are golden brown, and the center is baked through. I rotate the pan halfway through to help the bars bake evenly.

Cool and Cut

1. I remove the pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack.
2. I let the bars fully cool in the pan.
3. Once cool, I gently remove the bars from the pan and cut into 16 squares using a sharp, warm knife. I wipe the blade after each cut with a paper towel to get nice, clean cuts.

Tips and Tricks for the BEST Banana Bars

Here are my secrets for making these bars truly exceptional:

• Use Overripe Bananas: Overripe bananas are sweeter and have a stronger banana flavor.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter and egg are at room temperature for the best results.
• Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter can make the bars tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
• Use a Sharp Knife: Use a sharp, warm knife to cut the cooled bars into squares.
• Parchment Paper: Lining the baking dish with parchment paper makes it easy to remove the bars.

How to Serve

These Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are delicious served:

• Warm or at Room Temperature: They’re delicious both warm and at room temperature.
• With Coffee or Tea: Perfect for an afternoon treat.
• Breakfast or Snack: A great on-the-go breakfast or snack.
• Dessert: Serve them with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Make Ahead and Storage

These bars can sit at room temperature for a few days or be covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

FAQs about Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

• Can I use a different type of chocolate?
  • Yes, you can use white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or a mix of different types of chocolate.
• Can I add nuts?
  • Absolutely! Stir in some chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the batter.
• Can I freeze these bars?
  • Yes, you can.

Enjoy these moist, flavorful, and easy-to-make Chocolate Chip Banana Bars! They’re a perfect way to use up those ripe bananas and satisfy your sweet tooth.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

• Author: Caoimhe Byrne
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 37 minutes
• Total Time: 52 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert, Snack, Bars
• Cuisine: American

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Description

These Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are a moist, delicious, and easy-to-make treat. They combine the flavors of ripe bananas and chocolate chips in a soft, cake-like bar that’s perfect for a snack, dessert, or even breakfast!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup (113g, 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup (200g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg (about 56g), room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (6g) vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon (3g) fine sea salt (or table salt)
• 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup mashed overripe bananas (about 2 large bananas, 250g)
• 3/4 cup (125g) chocolate chips (mini or regular), plus a few extra for topping

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Instructions

• Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides to help lift the bars out later. Spray the parchment paper and any exposed sides of the pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes on medium-high speed. If making by hand, ensure the butter is very soft and use a whisk.  
• Add Egg, Vanilla, and Salt: Add the room-temperature egg, vanilla extract, and salt to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix on medium-low speed until everything is well combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula.
• Add Flour: Add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Fold in Bananas: Gently fold in the mashed bananas until they are evenly incorporated into the batter.
• Fold in Chocolate Chips: Fold in most of the chocolate chips, reserving a small handful for topping.
• Transfer to Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared 8×8-inch baking pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips over the top of the batter.
• Bake: Bake for 33-37 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). Rotate the pan halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking.
• Cool Completely: Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
• Cut and Serve: Once the bars are completely cool, use the parchment paper overhang to lift them out of the pan. Place them on a cutting board. Using a sharp, warm knife, cut the bars into 16 squares. Wipe the blade clean after each cut for clean, neat squares.

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Notes

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room-temperature butter, eggs, and bananas helps the ingredients emulsify properly, resulting in a more tender and evenly textured bar.
• Overripe Bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful the bars will be. Use bananas with plenty of brown spots.
• Mashing Bananas: Mash the bananas thoroughly for a smooth batter.
• Chocolate Chips: You can use mini chocolate chips, regular chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate.
• Measuring Flour: For best results, measure flour by weight. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, use the “spoon and level” method: fluff the flour, spoon it into the measuring cup, and then level it off with a straight edge. Do not pack the flour.
• Doneness: The bars are done when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.
• Cutting: Using a warm knife and wiping the blade clean after each cut will give you clean, neat squares.
• Storage room temperature for a few days or be covered with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.