Monkey Peanut Butter Bars
Indulge in the irresistibly soft and flavorful Monkey Peanut Butter Bars—a perfect fusion of ripe bananas, creamy peanut butter, and melty semi-sweet chocolate chips. These easy-to-make bars combine pantry staples like brown sugar and vanilla with the natural sweetness of bananas for a treat that feels indulgent yet wholesome. With just 15 minutes of prep time, these banana-peanut butter bars are baked to golden perfection in under 30 minutes, creating a tender, slightly chewy texture that's packed with nutty richness. Perfect as a snack, dessert, or lunchbox addition, this recipe is wonderfully customizable—add chopped peanuts for extra crunch or keep it simple. Serve them warm for gooey chocolate bites or let them cool for easy slicing and sharing. Whether you're satisfying a peanut butter craving or looking to use up overripe bananas, these bars are sure to become a family favorite!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 whole ripe bananas
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 0.5 cup brown sugar
- 0.25 cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 0.25 cup chopped peanuts (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy lifting.
In a medium mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth.
Add the peanut butter, brown sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Stir until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped peanuts (if using).
Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Once cool, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into squares or rectangles to serve.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3380 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 186.2 g | 239% | |
| Saturated Fat | 53.5 g | 268% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 62 mg | 21% | |
| Sodium | 2112 mg | 92% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 379.7 g | 138% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 34.8 g | 124% | |
| Total Sugars | 169.3 g | ||
| Protein | 96.1 g | 192% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 274 mg | 21% | |
| Iron | 16.8 mg | 93% | |
| Potassium | 2896 mg | 62% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
