Black-Bottom Banana Bars

Total Time Prep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.
Yield 3 dozen
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
These bars stay very moist, and their rich banana and chocolate flavor is even better the second day. My mother-in-law gave me this recipe, and it's a big favorite with both my husband and two sons.—Rene Wright, Ferryville, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup baking cocoa

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Stir in the bananas. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.
  2. Divide batter in half. Add cocoa to half; spread into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Spoon remaining batter on top and, if desired, swirl with a knife to marble batter.
  3. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 76 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 104mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.

These bars stay very moist, and their rich banana and chocolate flavor is even better the second day. My mother-in-law gave me this recipe, and it's a big favorite with both my husband and two sons.—Rene Wright, Ferryville, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator

© 2025 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC