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These Banana Bars are SO easy to make and have just four ingredients – it’s a great recipe for using up overripe bananas! These easy chocolate chip banana bars have a shortcut you are going to love – they are so easy you’ll want to make a batch every week.
Why We Love These Banana Bars
When I realized this recipe for semi-homemade banana bars would work, I was SO excited because it’s just so genius! Who would have guessed you can make 3-ingredient banana bars with Pillsbury cookie dough, overripe bananas, and chocolate chips?
Spoiler alert: You can, and they are amazing – there is something magical about these chocolate chip banana bars.
I always have overripe bananas on my counter and in my freezer. I’m constantly making banana muffins and banana bread, but when I made these, I happened to have a roll of cookie dough that had to get used. I’d read somewhere that you can mix the two and get a delicious banana dessert, but I didn’t believe it until I tried it.
Combining premade refrigerated cookie dough with bananas gives you the BEST banana bars that are like a cross between a blondie and a cake. Add a rich and decadent chocolate ganache topping, and no one will ever guess how easy these are to make.
These bars are like a fluffy cookie cake bar that is perfectly sweet and super full of banana flavor. They remind a lot of a frosted banana bar, but with chocolate chips instead of a cream cheese frosting.
They’re perfect without anything on top, but I added a chocolate glaze because…why not? Everything is better with more chocolate and more frosting, especially when it’s chocolate and banana.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Refrigerated sugar cookie dough – I use two rolls for this recipe. If you want to make a from-scratch dough, you can use my sugar cookie bar recipe. It just adds more work!
- Ripe bananas – it’s better to use ones that have plenty of brown spots on the peel. Overripe bananas are sweeter and easier to break down.
- Chocolate chips – sue some in the bars and some for the chocolate glaze.
- Heavy whipping cream – this is for the glaze. If you want plain bars, you won’t need it.
How to Make Easy Banana Bars
1. Mix: Place the cookie dough and bananas in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer. Beat them together until they are well combined. You can also do this with just a spoon – it just takes a bit more elbow grease to mix them. Then mix in chocolate chips.
2. Bake: spread the dough in a prepared 9×13” baking pan. Bake the bars for 35 to 40 minutes at 350°F.
3. Glaze: While the bars cool, make the glaze. Melt chocolate chips with heavy cream until smooth. Pour over the cooled banana bars.
4. Set: Place the bars in the refrigerator so the glaze can set. Once set, slice and serve!
Banana Bars Recipe Variations
There are so many ways to put a spin on these banana bars! I love the chocolate chip version, but here are other ways to switch it up:
- Add-ins: So many possibilities! Try adding chopped nuts, other baking chips like white chocolate, butterscotch, or toffee chips. You can also mix in M&Ms, chopped peanut butter cups, or even sprinkles.
- Frosting: The ganache is amazing, but you can also top these with a cream cheese frosting or a peanut butter frosting…or my favorite chocolate brown butter frosting!
- Dough: You can even switch the dough – try using refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough or even peanut butter cookie dough. The method works for those, too!
FAQs
You can speed up the process by placing the bananas in a paper bag with an apple. The apple will release a gas that will cause the bananas to ripen within a day or so.
Yes! Peel your overripe bananas and place them in a freezer bag. You can freeze them whole or cut them into chunks first. When you are ready to use them, thaw them before adding them to your recipe.
Store the bars in the refrigerator, and they will keep for up to three days.
Yes, just place the frosted bars on a cookie sheet and freeze them for 30 minutes. Transfer them to a bag or container with a paper towel separating the layers. Thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature.
Banana cake has a lighter, more tender crumb compared to banana bread which is a little denser. Depending on how they’re made, banana bars are like a cross between a cookie bar and a blondie. They are still soft but denser than cake or a slice of banana bread.
I hope you add bananas, cookie dough, and chocolate chips to your shopping list this week. You will LOVE how easy these banana bars are to make! They are the perfect way to use up overripe bananas and have a yummy treat all at the same time!
More Recipes to Use Your Overripe Bananas
Easy Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
Ingredients
- 2 (16 ounces each) rolls refrigerated sugar cookie dough
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- 3 ½ cups chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13” baking pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Gather your ingredients.
- Place bananas and sugar cookie dough in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. You can also use a hand mixer or just use a wooden spoon.
- Beat cookie dough and bananas until smooth. Stir in 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips. Press into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Place remaining 2 cups chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup. Heat for 1 minute on high power, then whisk until smooth. Pour over cooled bars, then chill to set frosting.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Recipe Nutrition
You won’t believe how easy it is to make these Chocolate Chip Banana Bars. Part homemade, part premade and so delicious!
Last Updated on May 20, 2022
If I am making this without the ganache, should I still refrigerate them?
Yes I find that banana recipes like this tend to get a little weird if left on the counter.
Easy, great ideas! Thanks for the help!
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