Name: Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter (113 grams), melted (1 stick); 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams); 2 large eggs (100 grams), room temperature; 3 ripe bananas, mashed; ¾ cup buttermilk (170 grams), room temperature; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (8 grams); 2 cups all-purpose flour (240 grams); 2 teaspoons baking powder (8 grams); 1 teaspoon baking soda (6 grams); 1 teaspoon kosher salt (3 grams); 1½ cups mini chocolate chips (266 grams), divided

If you love the comforting combo of bananas and chocolate, you’re going to absolutely adore this Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe. I’ve made these bars a million times, and each batch comes out perfectly moist with just the right balance of sweet banana and melty chocolate chips. They’re fantastic for breakfast on-the-go, an afternoon snack, or even a simple dessert that everyone in the family will request again and again.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Super Moist Texture: Thanks to ripe bananas and buttermilk, these bars stay soft and tender every time.
Simple Ingredients: You probably have everything in your pantry, making it an easy whip-up for busy days.
Chocolate Bliss: Mini chocolate chips folded in and sprinkled on top deliver pockets of melty, sweet goodness.
Kid- and Crowd-Friendly: Whether it’s snack time or dessert, these bars go down a treat with all ages.

A thick square piece of chocolate chip cake with a golden-brown top, covered with many dark chocolate chips. The cake has two visible layers, soft and moist, filled and topped with chocolate chips evenly spread. This piece is placed on a stack of three white plates, all on a white marbled surface, with some chocolate chips scattered around. In the background, a clear glass baking dish holds the rest of the cake with one piece missing. The scene is bright and clean, showing the texture of the cake clearly. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients combine in just the right way to create that classic banana bread flavor in a bar form, with an extra chocolatey touch you’ll end up craving. Look for well-ripened bananas — they’re the secret to that sweet, banana-forward taste.

Unsalted butter: Melting the butter gives the bars a tender crumb and rich flavor, plus a great base for the sugar to cream with the eggs.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens just enough without overpowering the natural banana flavor.
Large eggs: Bring structure and moisture — room temperature works best for even mixing.
Bananas: The star of the show; super ripe bananas add natural sweetness and moisture.
Buttermilk: Adds tang and tenderness, reacts with baking soda for lightness (plus you can make a quick substitute if you’re out!).
Pure vanilla extract: Enhances all the flavors with a warm, sweet aroma.
All-purpose flour: The structure builder; be careful not to overmix once you add this.
Baking powder: Helps the bars rise gently and keeps them fluffy.
Baking soda: Reacts with the acids in banana and buttermilk for extra rise.
Kosher salt: Just a pinch to balance sweetness and enhance flavor.
Mini chocolate chips: My favorite part — they blend into the batter and sprinkle on top for melty chocolate pockets.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love how versatile this Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe can be. Once you get comfortable with the basics, feel free to tweak things. I often swap in different mix-ins or adjust sweetness depending on the occasion.

Nutty Twist: Adding chopped walnuts or pecans gave my family a nice crunchy contrast, especially for snack time at school.
Healthier Swap: I sometimes swap half the flour for whole wheat to give the bars a bit more fiber without losing softness.
Extra Chocolate: Using semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips ups the richness if you want a more decadent treat.
Dairy-Free Version: I’ve successfully replaced butter with coconut oil and used a plant-based milk + vinegar combo instead of buttermilk — still delicious!

How to Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Whisk

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray — the batter sticks if you don’t. Then, in a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, and eggs until smooth and slightly fluffy. I like to use a hand mixer for this part; it helps incorporate a bit of air that lightens the bars.

Step 2: Add the Flavorful Wet Ingredients

Next up, mash those ripe bananas really well — no big lumps! — and add them to the bowl along with buttermilk and vanilla. Mix just until everything is combined. The buttermilk makes the batter rich and adds a gentle tanginess that brightens the whole flavor.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients Gently

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry mix to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Here’s where it’s easy to go too far — overmixing can make your bars tough, so stop as soon as you don’t see any more streaks of flour.

Step 4: Fold in Chocolate Chips and Bake

Fold in 1¼ cups of the mini chocolate chips to spread that melty goodness throughout. Pour the batter into your prepared pan, smooth the top, then sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips evenly across the surface for a beautiful finish. Pop it in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Step 5: Cool Before Cutting

Give your bars plenty of time to cool completely in the pan before cutting them into squares. I learned this trick the hard way — warm bars can crumble and fall apart if sliced too early.

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Pro Tips for Making Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe

Use Very Ripe Bananas: I’ve noticed the sweeter and softer your bananas, the more flavorful these bars become, and you get that perfect natural sweetness.
Buttermilk Substitute: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, I learned that adding a tablespoon of lemon juice to regular milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes works beautifully.
Don’t Overmix: Dry ingredients should be folded in gently to avoid dense, chewy bars — light mixing is key for that tender crumb.
Patience Is a Virtue: Always let the bars cool fully in the pan before slicing to keep them neat and easy to cut.

How to Serve Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe

A thick, square slice of chocolate chip cake sits on a stack of three white plates. The cake has a light golden color with many small, dark chocolate chips baked inside and scattered on top. The texture looks soft and fluffy with visible air pockets. To the right of the slice, a silver fork rests on the top plate. The background is a white marbled surface with a few chocolate chips scattered nearby. In the background, there are two more pieces of cake on white plates and a clear glass bowl holding more cake pieces, all placed on the same white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple—just a light dusting of powdered sugar or an extra sprinkle of mini chocolate chips right before serving adds a nice finishing touch. For an indulgent twist, a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce makes these bars feel like a special treat.

Side Dishes

These bars pair wonderfully with a cup of coffee or tea for breakfast or a snack. I’ve also served them alongside fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries for a colorful, balanced plate.

Creative Ways to Present

For casual brunches, I arrange the bars on a pretty wooden board lined with parchment paper, adding a few banana slices and extra chocolate chips on the side. At holiday gatherings, topping each square with a tiny swirl of chocolate ganache and a sprinkle of sea salt elevates the presentation and flavor.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I like to store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days — they stay soft and delicious. If your kitchen is warm, refrigeration will keep them fresh for up to a week, but just be sure to let them come to room temp before eating.

Freezing

These bars freeze beautifully! I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. When I’m ready to eat, I thaw them overnight in the fridge to maintain that fresh-baked texture with no sogginess.

Reheating

To warm up, I pop a bar in the microwave for about 20 seconds or heat it briefly in a 300°F oven wrapped in foil. This brings back the softness and melty chocolate without drying it out.

FAQs

Can I use frozen bananas for this Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe?

Absolutely! Frozen bananas work great once thawed — just be sure to drain any excess liquid before mashing to avoid a runny batter. This actually enhances the banana flavor even more.
What if I don’t have mini chocolate chips? Can I use regular-sized ones?

Yes, you can use regular chocolate chips. The only difference is that you’ll get fewer but bigger pockets of chocolate throughout. If you like a more even chocolate distribution, try chopping regular chips a bit smaller before folding in.
Can I make these bars gluten-free?

Definitely! Swap in a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend designed for baking in a 1:1 ratio. I recommend blends with xanthan gum to help mimic the texture of wheat flour, so your bars stay moist and tender.
How ripe should my bananas be for this recipe?

The riper the better! Look for bananas that are heavily speckled or even mostly brown – that natural sweetness and softness really shine through in the final bars.
Can I make half a batch if I want fewer bars?

You can, but keep in mind the pan size and baking time will adjust. Use an 8×8-inch pan for half a batch and check for doneness starting around 20 minutes to avoid overbaking.

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate Chip Banana Bars Recipe is one of those dependable, easy-to-love treats that’s become a staple in my kitchen. Whenever I have a few overripe bananas sitting around, these bars feel like a cozy hug in dessert form. I hope you find making and sharing them as joyful as I do — and that your family goes crazy for the rich banana flavor combined with pockets of melty chocolate. Give it a try, and I promise you’ll have a new favorite on your recipe list!