These old-fashioned Banana Bars with chocolate chips are the epitome of snack-meets-dessert (or is it dessert-meets-snack?) stardom.
Wholesome enough to fly as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up but scrumptious enough to satisfy sweet cravings, this healthy-dessert-meets-anytime-munchie is a recipe you can feel great packing for your kidsโ lunches or rewarding yourself with after (or during!) a long day.
They travel well for potlucks and picnics too.
One of the reasons I adore banana recipes like these banana bars so much is that they allow me to sweeten up my baked goods more naturally.
- Ripe bananas are sweet on their own, making them ideal for healthy desserts like these Banana Oatmeal Cookies with Chocolate Chips and these Healthy No Bake Cookies.
And when a dessert is better for you? You can feel great eating it more often.
These banana bars are made from less processed ingredients and offer nutritional benefits too (just like the recipes on this list of 50 Healthy Desserts).
A happy handful of chocolate chips on top certainly doesnโt hurt their appeal either!
5 Star Review
โThese are brilliant. The bars are not too sweet and have a great banana taste. Thank you for sharing such a genius creation.โ
— Tracy —
The ingredient lineup here is a more wholesome one.
In addition to being naturally sweetened primarily with mashed banana, these banana bars are made without brown sugar. (I use coconut sugar, though you can swap in brown sugar if that is what you have on hand.) The banana bars are also 100% whole wheat.
Even with these healthy swaps, however, this banana recipe will still satisfy any sweet tooth. I found a good reason to eat them at any time of day.
- In the morning, I topped one of the banana squares with a generous portion of Greek yogurt and side of berries.
- After a workout, I grabbed one right out of the container and munched it while I finished off my water bottle. <โSUCH a perfect post-workout reward!
- For a mid-afternoon snack, I enjoyed these banana bars with applesauce.
- After dinner, I replaced the Greek yogurt with vanilla ice cream andโsince we are all friends hereโmore chocolate chips.
How to Make Banana Bars
As written, these baked banana bars are sweet, but not overly so.
Like these Strawberry Oatmeal Bars, and honestly the majority of the healthy dessert recipes on my site, theyโre well balanced, nutritious, and hit the spot whether you need a 3 p.m. energy boost or a late-night treat.
The Ingredients
- Banana. If you’re wondering what you can do with old bananas, this recipe is the answer! Overripe bananas are safe to eat, naturally sweet, and they’re truly scrumptious too. Plus, bananas are rich in potassium and fiber.
- Coconut Sugar. Coconut sugar is a more natural way to sweeten these bars.
- Milk. Helps keep these bars moist. I used unsweetened almond milk, but any milk you have on hand will work well.
- Vanilla. Enhances all the other flavors in the bars.
- Whole Wheat Flour. Whole wheat flour adds extra nutrition and a slight nuttiness that’s truly delicious.
- Cinnamon + Nutmeg. Warm and cozy spices that pair wonderfully with the banana.
- Chocolate Chips. Because chocolate chips are always a good idea!
Tip!
You can also make these banana bars for a crowd. Double the recipe, then bake it in a 9×13-inch pan. The 9×13 banana bars recipe will be thicker, so you will need to extend the baking time by several minutes.
The Directions
- Mash the bananas in a bowl, then add the sugar and wet ingredients.
- Stir the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl. Incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Add the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees F for 16 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely, then cut it into bars. ENJOY!
Banana Bar Recipe Upgrades
If youโd like to turn these light banana bars into a truly indulgent dessert, check out a few suggestions below.
- Banana Bars with Peanut Butter Frosting. Peanut butter banana bars sound delish! Make the bars as directed. Let cool, then top with a peanut butter frosting.
- Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting. Make the bars as directed. Let cool and top with the cream cheese frosting from this dreamy Cranberry Cream Cheese Banana Bread.
- Banana Bars with Brown Butter Frosting. Top these bars with the scrumptious brown butter frosting from this Banana Bread Brownies recipe.
- Banana Bars with Glaze. Keep it sweet and simple. Drizzle the bars with a simple glaze like the ones on these Blueberry Oatmeal Bars.
- EVEN MORE ICING IDEAS. Banana bars with chocolate frosting or maple frosting would also be delightful.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Store bars in an airtight storage container at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
- To Freeze. Freeze bars in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. If Iโm trying to exercise serious self-control, I like to wrap and freeze my banana bars individually, then thaw them as cravings strike.
What to Serve with Banana Bars
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Baking Pan. My all-time favorite baking pan.
- Parchment Paper. Helps keep the baking pan clean. (I love these precut sheets too.)
- Mixing Bowls. This set is perfect for making banana bread bars.
The Best Baking Pan
This high-quality baking pan is easy to clean and creates perfect corners every time. It’s a kitchen tool you’ll use for years to come!
Banana Bars with Chocolate Chips
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed ripe banana about 3 medium bananas
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled to room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper so that the parchment overhangs two opposite sides like handles. Lightly coat with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Mash the bananas in a mixing bowl. Double check the measurement to ensure you have 1 cup (less will make the bars dry; more and they may not bake all the way through). Stir in the coconut sugar, butter, milk, egg, and vanilla until well blended.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients. With a wooden spoon or spatula, stir to combine, stopping as soon as the flour disappears. Fold in 1/3 cup chocolate chips.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons chocolate chips on top. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Place the pan a wire rack to cool completely, then using the parchment handles, lift the bars onto a cutting board. Slice into squares of desired size and enjoy!
Notes
- TO STORE: Store bars at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.ย
- TO MAKE DAIRY FREE: Use almond milk or coconut milk and replace the butter with the same amount of a vegan butter substitute or coconut oil.
- TO MAKE VEGAN: Follow the dairy-free directions in the note above; For the egg, you can experiment with a flax egg, but I havenโt tried this yet. If you do decide to play around, Iโd love to hear how it goes!
- TO MAKE GLUTEN FREE: Replace the wheat flour with the same amount of a 1:1 all-purpose baking flour blend, such as this one.
Nutrition
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So delicious! We grow bananas and I have been looking for a lighter version of a banana blondie recipe to use up some of my excess bananas and this was perfect! The only thing I did differently was I browned the butter (just because I love browned butter). And my husband loved them too! Thank you so much for this recipe, it is 100% a keeper!
Hi Christine! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank yo for this kind review!
Turned out perfectly. A great way to use my over ripe bananas.
Hi Jessica! Definitely agree! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I make these on a weekly basis for my 5 year old who loves banana bread. Easy peasy recipe, I forgo the 2nd bowl which saves me a dish, big hit in my house!
Hi Natalie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I have yet to make, but is on my to-do list for tomorrow! However, I only have salted butter. Thoughts?
Hi Ashley! That should work. Hope you enjoy it!
I loved this recipe I mad it for my family and my school and they all said that it was amazing. Thank you so much for posting this and I really appreciate it.
Hi Emily! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Turned out great !! I donโt cook at all but decided to try this and Iโm so proud of myself !! Very good !!
Hi Claudia! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I reduced the sugar to about 40g while keeping all else the same. Mine turned out to be really moist, chewy, like kueh in our asian context. I”m not sure if i did something wrong? Too moist? The sweetness of the banana and chocolate was perfect though, and apart from the texture, it was a winner for me!
Hi Swee leng! Thanks for the feedback! Glad you were able to enjoy it!
First thought – I was initially surprised by the texture. I equate bars being denser… and more compact. Itโs more so a fluffier banana bread baked in a square tin.
That said, it was super good and I will be bookmarking this recipe. I used light brown sugar, whole wheat flour, and baked for about 19 minutes. I used three small / medium bananas but did not have the patience to measure them so I am curious how close I was to the one cup.
Hi Rita! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Easy and delish! Even without much added sugar, these are plenty sweet and satisfying. Maybe next time Iโll add some toasted walnuts, just because I like the crunch. Thanks for sharing this recipeโdefinitely a keeper for me!
Hi Carol! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These came out so good! So easy and I prefer it to banana muffins or banana bread. So moist, fluffy, perfect sweetness!
Hi Aimee! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I’m about to be that person, but could I make these without the sugar?
Hi Katie! Iโve only tested the recipe as written so I wouldnโt be able to advise on how to make without sugar. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!