Chocolate Banana Oat Bars
…for my rediscovered love of bananas + chocolate
A few weeks after working at Sprinkles Cupcakes, I discovered that I have fallen in love with bananas all over again. Well, eh-hem, let me correct myself. I have rediscovered my love for chocolate banana flavored everything.There are only three days a week that we bake this wondrous flavor combination in cupcake form—Banana Dark Chocolate. Out of ALL the cupcakes we bake and ALL the cupcakes I love, this one is by far my favorite. But obviously I need to have it more than three days a week because well, I just do.
Inspired simply by these flavors, I created a healthier dessert option for myself to enjoy the other 4 days a week. These lighter dessert bars are loaded with oats, bananas, chocolate chips, and drizzled with a dark chocolate ganache (because I just couldn’t resist).
…for my rediscovered love of bananas + chocolate
A few weeks after working at Sprinkles Cupcakes, I discovered that I have fallen in love with bananas all over again. Well, eh-hem, let me correct myself. I have rediscovered my love for chocolate banana flavored everything.There are only three days a week that we bake this wondrous flavor combination in cupcake form—Banana Dark Chocolate. Out of ALL the cupcakes we bake and ALL the cupcakes I love, this one is by far my favorite. But obviously I need to have it more than three days a week because well, I just do.
Inspired simply by these flavors, I created a healthier dessert option for myself to enjoy the other 4 days a week. These lighter dessert bars are loaded with oats, bananas, chocolate chips, and drizzled with a dark chocolate ganache (because I just couldn’t resist).
The Ingredients…*
Recipe adapted from: Bon Appetit
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups (packed) light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups milk chocolate chips, divided
1 cup heavy cream
Recipe adapted from: Bon Appetit
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups (packed) light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups milk chocolate chips, divided
1 cup heavy cream
The Instructions…*
For the Banana Oat Bars
(1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 15x10x1-inch baking sheet.
(2) Blend flour, cookie oats, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; set aside
(3) Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add both sugars and beat until well blended.
(4) Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas, then vanilla.
For the Banana Oat Bars
(1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 15x10x1-inch baking sheet.
(2) Blend flour, cookie oats, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; set aside
(3) Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add both sugars and beat until well blended.
(4) Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas, then vanilla.
(5) Stir in flour mixture, and then fold in 1 cup of the chocolate chips.
(6) Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean and top is golden, about 45 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Meanwhile, prepare ganache…
(6) Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean and top is golden, about 45 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Meanwhile, prepare ganache…
For the Chocolate Ganache
Recipe adapted from: All Recipes
(1) Place the remaining cup of chocolate chips into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth.
(2) Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over bars.
Recipe adapted from: All Recipes
(1) Place the remaining cup of chocolate chips into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth.
(2) Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over bars.
(3) Finally, cut into 3x2-inch bars and serve :)
Oh me, oh my! I'm drooling thinking about how good these were.....