Marbled Banana Bars Recipes

MARBLED BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan generously with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Add the mashed bananas, sour cream and vanilla extract and beat until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Place the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Cook on high power in 20 second intervals, stopping to stir in between, until about 80% melted. Stir until smooth, letting the residual heat in the bowl melt the remaining bits of unmelted chocolate. Add the cocoa powder and stir until dissolved. Add one cup of the banana bread batter to the melted chocolate and stir until well combined.
• Spoon the plain batter and chocolate batter alternately into the prepared loaf pan. Swirl the batters together with a knife (don't overdo it or the colors will get muddled -- up and back 4 to 5 times should suffice). Bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes, then remove the loaf from the pan and set on the wire rack to cool completely.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, wrap it securely in aluminum foil, freezer wrap or place in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

CHOCOLATE MARBLED BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×5- inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. Cut parchment paper into a strip so that it fits in the bottom of the pan and up sides. Coat again with nonstick spray and set aside.
• : In a bowl whisk together 3/4 cup all purpose flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Set aside.
• : In a bowl whisk together the remaining 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Set this aside as well.
• In another bowl mix together the melted butter, sour cream, mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract. Divide this mixture in half between the chocolate and regular banana bread dry ingredients. (It will be approximately 1 2/3 cups of the mixture in each) and stir to incorporate.
• Stir in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips into each mixture.
• Drop spoonfuls of each batter into the prepared pan, alternating as you add. Once all the batter is added, use a butter knife to gently swirl the batters together. Don't over-swirl.
• Add the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips on top and bake for 50 - 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
• Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 20 minutes before using the parchment paper to lift the bread from the pan and transfer to a cooling rack.

CHOCOLATE MARBLED BANANA NUT BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom and sides of 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, 1/2 cup butter and egg until soft dough forms. Reserve 1 cup of the dough. To the remaining dough, add mashed banana and walnuts; mix well. Spread in bottom of pan.
• In medium microwaveable bowl, microwave 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter on High about 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Add reserved cookie dough; stir until well blended. Drop chocolate dough by spoonfuls evenly over top of banana mixture; spread gently to almost cover. Swirl chocolate mixture into banana mixture with knife for marbled design.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips on High about 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drizzle over bars. Cool completely, about 2 hours. For bars, cut into 5 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.