Banana Chocolate Chip Dessert

3/4 c butter
2/3 c white sugar
2/3 c brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 t vanilla
1 c mashed bananas
1 3/4 c all-purpose flour (I used 1 c white, 3/4 c wheat)
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 c semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and flour 10x15" jelly roll pan (I use pampered chef rectangle stone)

In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Fold in mashed banana.  In separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.  Fold flour mixture into butter mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spread in prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven 20 minutes, until set.  Cool before cutting into squares.

Healthy Banana Oat Snack Bars

(www.melskitchencafe.com)

*Makes about 20 small bars (approx. 130 calories each)

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal, like Rice Krispies

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3 very ripe bananas, peeled and mashed

1/4 cup honey (I used agave)

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1/4 cup peanut or other nut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment or foil, leaving a slight overhang on each of the long edges. Lightly coat the pan with cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, rice cereal, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon, stirring well to combine. In a second large bowl, combine the banana, honey, yogurt, nut butter, and vanilla. Whisk together until the mixture is fairly uniform and smooth.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ones and stir until they come together. Gently fold in the chocolate chips. Transfer to the prepared pan and flatten down lightly with a spatula or your hands.

Bake for anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. I baked mine for only 15-18 minutes because I wanted them soft like a cookie. If you want them firm and golden, continue baking until they are starting to brown on the top, more like 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the bars cool completely before removing from the pan and cutting into squares.