Double Chocolate Banana Bars

I love finding a recipe and then adapting it to make it a little healthier. I did just that with these delicious bars - replacing some of the fat with applesauce and amping up the banana quotient. Chocolate and bananas are a great combination.

When I served these to my nephew, he turned up his nose cause he "doesn't like bananas anymore." However, after just one bite he changed his mind: "Sara, I love these, because they taste like chocolate!" So here's a little snack cake for all you chocolate lovers, made even better by banana. All the little monkeys in your life will love these bars.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa,

baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy. Add mashed bananas, applesauce

and vanilla

and beat until combined. Add flour mixture and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Transfer batter to a lightly greased 8×8 baking pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out semi-clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

One year ago: Island Chicken
Two years ago: Northwoods Bean Soup
Three years ago: Carrot Bran Muffins
Four years ago: Baked Oatmeal

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Double Chocolate Banana Bars

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 medium bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Beat butter, crisco, sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy. Add mashed banana and vanilla and beat until combined. Add flour mixture and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Press batter into a lightly greased 8×8 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out semi-clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Makes 12 bars.

Recipe Source: Adapted from Becky Bakes