I loved reading all of your thoughts and comments on neighbors, neighborhoods and all things neighborly the other day.
The conversation started because I was baking something yummy to take to a new family that moved in down the street. I find there’s no better way to say “Welcome to the neighborhood!” than delivering a box of gooey-sugary goodness.
And since this recipe is full of bananas, chocolate and pure awesomeness, I thought I should share it with you too. A good friend gave me the recipe, so I don’t know it’s original source. But it’s a new take on the old-standby, Banana Bread. But it’s full of chocolate chips and it’s more of a bar cookie. Pure delishiousity.
I usually make a 1-1/2x recipe and bake in in my large jelly-roll pan. That gives me enough to share and to stuff my face satisfy my family.
I delivered one box to the family that just moved into the neighborhood and one to another family that I’ve been wanting to know a little better. Who doesn’t love some fresh-baked sweetness? I predict they’ll be my new BFFs.
Banana Monkey Bars
3/4 cup butter or margarine (1-1/2 sticks)
2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (3 medium)
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 6-oz package (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips
- Turn oven to 350 degrees and grease a 15x10x1″ baking pan with shortening.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter or margarine with electric mixer on medium speed until softened. Add sugar and brown sugar and beat till fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well.
- Stir in mashed bananas.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add this to the banana mixture, beating until well mixed.
- Stir in chocolate chips. Eat a few chips.
- Spread batter in the greased baking pan.
- Bake in the 350 degree about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack. Cut into bars.
The end.
{ 34 comments }
Looks delicious, what a nice thing to give to your neighbors.
mmmmmmmmm thanks for sharing!
anh´s last blog ..welcome to my home
These look delicious! I made banana loaves the other day but will definitely try these next! I just ran across your blog and love it!
These look soooooooooo good ! I’m going to make some for sure.
My hubbie is going to love these! I will be getting my *** off this chair soon and running down to the kitchen to preheat the oven. Thanks for what sounds like a soon to be classic recipe.
Janet
It looks delicious. I am going to have to try it. You are such a thoughtful neighbor! We need more neighbors like you. (Mine aren’t bad they are just busy like us all.) Annette
Annette´s last blog ..Chandelier Upgrade
These sound yummy!
Nikke´s last blog ..Whats the haps
My Mr. doesn’t eat chocolate, but these sound delicious; I think I will try them with white chocolate chips!
What a great recipe…and I have a freezer of frozen bananas! Lucky me…I mean, lucky for my neighbors
Yum! I wish I had a neighbor like you!
I’m moving in next door!
Priscilla´s last blog ..Wedding at Garrett Chapel
I love bananas and chocolate together. I totally need to make these. Thank you!
Those look great, Kimba!
I might just have to make those when someone moves into the house next door. 
Thanks for sharing.
thanks for the recipe…it sounds so yummy I am going to make it tomorrow!
Alyssa
http://lifeoflyssie.com
This recipe sounds fab-u-lous and absolutely delicious! I wish I was YOUR neighbor! Thank you for sharing it. I think I will try to make it this weekend.
xxxxx
I agree, good old fashioned “welcome” baked goods are the way to go.
YUM-O!!! Maybe I’ll shake things up and take batches over to my new neighbors when WE are the ones moving into a new neighborhood at the end of the month!!
I’m SO going to miss our current ‘hood – we’ve seriously got it so nice living in a quiet cul-de-sac – taking turns hosting kiddos for play, getting each others mail when we’re out of town and popping over to chat when we’re all outside. We joke that we should come borrow a cup of sugar once in a while just because we CAN.
Thank you so much for that yummy recipe!! I am definitely going to try it!! I think all my little monkeys will like it.
cheryl
MMMMM can’t wait to make them for a neighbor or two of mine. Thanks for recipe.
Kim´s last blog ..Agape Love
I recently made a recipe like this, only mine had pecans in it too. I have to admit that my family ate the entire pan instead of sharing with neighbors.
Tiffany´s last blog ..Grocery University – Learn to Save Money on Groceries
Those look like pure yumminess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thx
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These are packed with flavor and really moist. Mine were a little undercooked at 25 minutes. They need an extra 3-5 minutes for my oven. I did half chocolate chips/half butterscotch chips and really liked it! Thanks for sharing.
I made these last night and they were loved! Especially by my husband.
Thanks for the recipe.
These look yummy! I will definitely have to make these for my family! Thank you for sharing!
Sandra
Sandra @ My Bella Rose´s last blog ..Cloche Party!
Kimba,
Those look delish!
I love bananas and chocolate together so I may have to try this! Yum! And what a great way to welcome your neighbors.
I’ve got some bananas that need to be used up ASAP. This looks perfect!
Kara´s last blog ..Sqeeeee!
This looks very similar to my family’s fav blondie recipe – but the bananas will be a GREAT addition and disguise it as something “healthy!” Thanks for sharing
Brandy´s last blog ..Blog Hop – well- from a Newbies Perspective
The only thing I can ever think of to make with bananas is banana bread. These look like a “healthy” cookie bar, so you can eat a bunch of them without any worries. Right??
Lamb´s last blog ..Laminate Floors
i am going to add coconut and macadamia nuts to mine
thanks for the recipe!
You have just given me an excuse to buy a jelly roll pan. These sound delish!
Great recipe, and great idea to pass it on to the neighbors!
We’ve lived in our house for 5 years now and we only “know” the neighbors on our side of the street, two houses to each side of us. *blush*
Can’t wait to make these—they look too good to just have one!
Dani´s last blog ..La Vie Looks of the Week
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I made this and it is amazing!!!
Oh, what a nice (chocolate-chip-studded) change from banana bread!! :>) I linked on my weekly roundup, post is under my name. Thanks so much for sharing!
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