CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BARS

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BARS

🍌🍫 Chocolate Chip Banana Bars — The Snack That Thinks It’s Dessert

 

Moist, chewy, and loaded with melty chocolate chips — these Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are the glow‑up your sad, spotty bananas have been waiting for.

 

 

Banana bread is cute and all, but sometimes you want something a little sassier, a little more snack‑friendly, and a lot more chocolatey. Enter: Chocolate Chip Banana Bars.

These bars are the perfect mash‑up of banana bread comfort and cookie‑bar indulgence. They’re soft, chewy, and just sweet enough to feel like dessert, but wholesome enough that you can totally justify eating one for breakfast (bananas = fruit, and fruit = health food, right?).

Why this recipe is a keeper:

• Banana rescue mission — finally, a glamorous end for those overripe bananas.
• One‑bowl wonder — less mess, more snacking.
• Crowd‑pleasing — picky eaters, chocolate lovers, and banana bread fans unite.
• Portable — perfect for lunchboxes, bake sales, or midnight fridge raids.
• Customizable — add nuts, swirl in peanut butter, or drizzle with caramel.

💬 Reader prompt: Are you team “eat bananas straight up” or team “only edible once baked into something fabulous”?

You know how it is! You buy bananas for the family hoping that they will eat them before they go brown. Sometimes they do but usually they don’t! lol! Honestly, that’s the best! It gives you an excuse to make delicious, ooey, gooey chocolate chip banana bars!

We were heading out of town, when I realized I had bananas begging me to make them into a delicious treat! The great thing is this that this recipe comes together really fast and is so easy to make! Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, parties and after school snacks!

 

 

CAN I USE UNRIPE BANANAS?

It’s best to use ripe or overripe bananas in these bars. They will be much sweeter and more flavorful than underripe. They will also be easier to mash. But if you are in a pinch, go ahead, the flavor might be a little different but still delicious!

 

HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST?

Once your bars are cooled, cut them into bars, place them into an airtight container. At room temperature  they will last for up to 3 days and will keep for up to 7 days in the fridge. They make a great addition to daily lunchboxes! I really don’t think you have to worry about this, they will be gone before you know it!

 

DO THEY FREEZE WELL?

Yes! You can freeze these banana bars. Two options: freeze them in the dish, or wrap them individually and place in freezer bags. 

 

 

TIPS FOR THESE BAD BOYS

• The more ripe your bananas are the sweeter and more banana flavored these bars will be. My mother in law freezes her ripe bananas so she can use them at a later date. That way, you always have bananas for your next recipe!
• Don’t over mix the batter. The more you work the batter, the drier the bar.
• Let the cake cool completely before cutting into bars. Unless you just can’t wait!

 

 

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BARS

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Ingredients

• 5 very ripe bananas
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 15×10.5? pan with non-stick spray.

• Peel bananas and mash well. Stir in brown sugar, oil, milk and eggs until combined. Add in dry ingredients and stir. Fold in 1/2 the chocolate chips.

• Spread the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle remaining chips on top. Bake 18-22 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely and cut into squares.

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Bar, Makes 16)

• Calories: ~210
• Protein: 3g
• Carbs: 32g
• Fat: 8g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 18g

Nutritional Facts & Fun

• Bananas: Potassium + natural sweetness.
• Brown Sugar: Deep caramel flavor.
• Cinnamon: Cozy spice + antioxidants.
• Chocolate Chips: Happiness in bite‑sized form.
• Eggs: Protein + structure.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you like your banana treats with cinnamon spice, or do you prefer them plain and chocolate‑forward?

🔄 Recipe Variations

• Nutty Banana Bars: Add chopped walnuts or pecans.
• Peanut Butter Swirl: Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter into batter, swirl with knife.
• Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle caramel sauce over cooled bars.
• Double Chocolate: Add cocoa powder to batter for brownie vibes.
• Tropical Twist: Add shredded coconut and white chocolate chips.

💬 Reader prompt: Which version would your family devour first — peanut butter swirl, caramel drizzle, or double chocolate?

🧒 Kid Tips

• Let kids mash the bananas (messy but fun).
• Give them a handful of chocolate chips to “taste test.”
• Cut bars into fun shapes with cookie cutters.
• Call them “banana brownies” to make them sound exciting.

🛒 Grocery Hacks

• Bananas: Freeze overripe bananas for baking.
• Brown Sugar: Store with a marshmallow to keep soft.
• Chocolate Chips: Buy in bulk — they disappear fast.
• Flour: Keep in airtight container to avoid clumps.
• Cinnamon: Buy in larger jars — you’ll use it constantly.

💬 Reader prompt: Do you usually freeze bananas for baking, or do you use them up right away?

🎯 Reader Challenge

This week, I challenge you to make Chocolate Chip Banana Bars and serve them in a fun way. Maybe it’s topped with ice cream, maybe it’s drizzled with peanut butter, maybe it’s stacked into a bar tower. Post your creation with #LouLouGirlsBananaBars so we can all drool together.

🥪 Leftover Remix

• Banana Bar Trifles: Layer with pudding and whipped cream.
• Banana Bar Sundaes: Warm, top with ice cream and caramel.
• Banana Bar Milkshake: Blend with milk and ice cream.
• Banana Bar Bread Pudding: Cube and bake with custard.
• Banana Bar French Toast: Dip slices in custard, fry, drizzle with syrup.

💬 Reader prompt: Would you rather turn leftovers into sundaes or milkshakes?

💭 Final Thoughts

These Chocolate Chip Banana Bars are proof that simple ingredients can create something magical. They’re soft, chewy, and versatile enough to be breakfast, snack, or dessert. Plus, they’re the kind of recipe that makes everyone smile — and isn’t that the best kind of baking?

Here’s the thing about banana bars — they’re never just bars. They’re the smell of bananas baking, the joy of biting into melty chocolate, the comfort of knowing your snack game is strong.

And these Chocolate Chip Banana Bars? They’re keepers. They’re soft, they’re golden, they’re gooey, they’re fun. They’re the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve turned everyday ingredients into something bakery‑worthy.

But what I love most is how recipes like this bring us together. Food has that magic — it’s not just about eating, it’s about sharing. It’s about swapping tips, laughing over chocolate‑smeared fingers, and building little traditions that make life sweeter.

So here’s my challenge to you: bake these bars, share them with your people, and then tell me your twist. Did you add peanut butter? Did you sneak in nuts? Did you double the chocolate just because you could? (No judgment — I’d be first in line for that version.)

💬 Reader prompt: Should we do a “Banana Glow‑Up Series” next? I’m dreaming up banana cream pie bars, banana s’mores, and maybe even banana split cake.

Until then, may your bananas be ripe, your chocolate melty, your bars chewy, and your kitchen filled with laughter, love, and second helpings. Because at the end of the day, recipes like this aren’t just about baking — they’re about celebrating the little joys that make life delicious.

Did you try our Chocolate Chip Banana Bars? What did you think? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram! 

 

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