These chocolate chip banana bars are super easy to make and perfect to serve as a snack or dessert. All of the flavor of your favorite banana cake in bar form!

chocolate chip banana bar on plate

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I love using bananas in baked goods! They keep them really moist and I love the natural flavor and sweetness. I can also trick myself into thinking I’m eating one of my daily portions of fruit!

Perfect to serve up as a mid afternoon snack or as a family dessert.

If you love these bars, be sure to check out my Banana Muffins and Brown Butter Banana Bread!

Why you will love these chocolate banana bars!

  • Easy: It takes just 10 minutes to make the batter for these bars and then into the oven it goes!
  • Fluffy and light: These cake bars rise wonderfully and aren’t at all heavy. They are very cake like!
  • Perfect for a crowd: This recipe makes 12 squares, so it’s a perfect treat if you have guests.
step by step photos of how to make chocolate chip banana bars
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pan of chocolate chip banana bars

How to make chocolate chip banana bars

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

  • Prep: Pre heat the oven and grease a baking pan.
  • Combine: Beat together the butter sugar and eggs. Mix in the other wet ingredients. Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in chocolate chips.
  • Bake: Pour the batter into the pan, sprinkle chocolate chips on top and bake until cooked through.
sliced banana bars with chocolate chips
lifting up large chocolate chip banana bar

Can you use underripe bananas?

It’s best to use ripe or overripe bananas in these bars. They will be much sweeter and more flavorful than underripe. They will also be easier to mash.

How long do they keep?

Once the cake is cooled and cut into bars, transfer to an airtight container. They will keep well at room temperature for up to 3 days and will keep for up to 7 days in the fridge. They make a great addition to daily lunchboxes!

Can you freeze them?

Yes! You can freeze these banana bars either in the dish, or wrap them individually and place in freezer bags. You can thaw them at room temperature or in the fridge.

banana bar on plate with chocolate chips
stacked banana bars on white plates

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • The more ripe your bananas are the sweeter and more banana flavored these bars will be. 
  • If you don’t have buttermilk on hand you can add a tablespoon of lemon juice to ¾ cup of milk. The acid in the lemon juice ferments the milk and acts as a raising agent.
  • Don’t over mix the batter, the dry ingredients should be just combined.
  • Let the cake cool completely before cutting into bars.
banana bar on plate with fork

More Easy Baking Recipes

Recipe Card

Chocolate Chip Banana Bars

4.70 from 117 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Author: Becky Hardin
chocolate chip banana bar on plate
These chocolate chip banana bars are super easy to make and perfect to serve as a snack or dessert. All of the flavor of your favorite banana cake in bar form!
Save this recipe!
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup unsalted butter 113 grams, melted (1 stick)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
  • 2 large eggs 100 grams, room temperature
  • 3 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
  • cups mini chocolate chips 266 grams, divided

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, with a whisk or hand mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and eggs together.
    ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs
  • Add the banana, buttermilk, and vanilla and mix well.
    3 bananas, ¾ cup buttermilk, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
    2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Fold in 1¼ cups of the chocolate chips.
    1½ cups mini chocolate chips
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  • Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top.
  • Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • The more ripe your bananas are the sweeter and more banana flavored these bars will be. 
  • If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can add a tablespoon of lemon juice to ¾ cup of milk. The acid in the lemon juice ferments the milk and acts as a raising agent.
  • Don’t overmix the batter, the dry ingredients should be just combined.
  • Let the cake cool completely before cutting into bars.
Storage: Store chocolate chip banana bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Serving: 1barCalories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 401mgPotassium: 163mgFiber: 2gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 375IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.70 from 117 votes (101 ratings without comment)
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42 Comments
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Jenny
Jenny
February 12, 2023 2:57 pm

Could you make these into muffin/cupcakes? If so does the baking time need to change?

Samantha Marceau
February 13, 2023 9:13 am
Reply to  Jenny

Yes, we would start checking them at about 15 minutes!

Karen S. Drew
Karen S. Drew
November 30, 2022 8:07 pm

DELICIOUS & easy to make!! Will make again!! Yum.

Karen
Karen
April 8, 2022 1:30 am

These look amazing! We don’t use cow’s milk, do you know of anything else we can substitute for the buttermilk? We typically drink oat, almond, or coconut milk, so I’m unsure if the vinegar trick will work on those.
I can’t wait to figure out a way to substitute so we can make these!

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 11, 2022 5:43 pm
Reply to  Karen

You can try a vegan sour cream?

Louise
Louise
April 28, 2022 5:37 pm
Reply to  Karen

Yes, you can add lemon juice to oat milk to substitute buttermilk and it works just fine. 1tsp lemon juice in half cup of oat milk :)4 stars

bridget
bridget
March 6, 2022 5:49 pm

very good.i used half the sugar and added an extra banana. i am always looking for recipes to use up old bananas. Hate to waste food. This was perfect!4 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 8, 2022 1:06 pm
Reply to  bridget

Thanks for sharing, Bridget!

Handy Randy
Handy Randy
March 1, 2022 12:55 pm

Easy recipe, great tasting.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
March 8, 2022 1:35 pm
Reply to  Handy Randy

Thank you for sharing!

Jenny Hosch
Jenny Hosch
February 20, 2022 11:01 am

I made these to bring to work and they didn’t even last past lunch time! These are so amazingly good. I have two more in the oven to take to people. Thanks for an amazing recipe.

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
February 28, 2022 9:30 am
Reply to  Jenny Hosch

Sounds like a success, Jenny!

Kaleigh
Kaleigh
September 24, 2021 9:00 pm

So yum and great way to switch it up from banana bread. I didn’t have buttermilk so I used the milk and lemon trick. Worked out perfect! Thanks for sharing that trick.5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 29, 2021 4:32 pm
Reply to  Kaleigh

Great improvising!

Viktoriia
Viktoriia
September 2, 2021 11:50 pm

Sooooo delicious ❤️ I’m twelve and I made these so easily 😍5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 3, 2021 11:50 am
Reply to  Viktoriia

You are going to become quite the baker!

Viktoroia
Viktoroia
September 2, 2021 11:49 pm

Omgggg so yummy ❤️❤️

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 3, 2021 11:51 am
Reply to  Viktoroia

Thanks for sharing your success with us, Viktoroia!

Betsy Wahl
Betsy Wahl
August 29, 2021 10:45 pm

What size baking pan?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
September 3, 2021 12:05 pm
Reply to  Betsy Wahl

9×13!