In honor of National Banana Bread Day, my husband and I are sharing a fantastic banana bar recipe from our Coffeehouse Mystery series.
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Cleo Coyle has a partner in
crime-writing—her husband.
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It sounds complicated, yet it's very easy to make, and a perfect snack for afternoon coffee breaks or late-night noshing. These beautiful bars make a great home-baked gift for friends and family, too.
Now let's start baking!
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☕ A Recipe Note from Cleo
"Lovin' from the oven" is how the Village Blend's coffee hunter, Matt Allegro, described these fresh-baked squares in our Coffeehouse Mystery Billionaire Blend. And Matt was right.
These bars pair beautifully with coffee, espresso, and strong black teas.
May you bake them with love and eat with joy!
~ Cleo
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☕ Cleo Coyle's
Chocolate-Bottom Banana Bars
Yield: 16 squares (one 9‑inch-square pan)
Ingredients:
2 cups mashed ripe* bananas (about 4 to 6 depending on size)
*See my note at the end of this recipe to ripen bananas in the oven
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup vegetable oil (or cold-pressed coconut oil, melt before measuring)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten with fork
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon table salt or finely ground sea salt
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions:
Step 1—Prep oven and pan: First preheat your oven to 350° F. Line the bottom of a 9‑inch-square pan with parchment paper, allowing the ends to hang over the side like handles. You’ll use those handles to easily lift the baked banana bar slab out of the pan. Coat paper lightly with non-stick spray. Set aside.
Step 2—Make batter: Combine your 2 cups of mashed bananas and sour cream with a fork. Add the oil, sugar, egg, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fork-whisk well (or use an electric mixer) to blend until smooth. Now add your flour and mix until a lumpy batter forms, but do not over-mix at this stage.
Step 3—Create chocolate bottom: Remove 1 cup batter and place it into a separate bowl. Add cocoa and espresso powder, fork-whisking until the batter is smooth. Fold in chocolate chips, and (optional) chopped walnuts.
Step 4—Assemble and bake: Spread the chocolate batter across the entire bottom of the prepared pan. Take your time, using the back of a spoon to spread the batter all the way into the corners. Be sure the layer is even. Now pour your remaining banana batter on top and once again use the back of a spoon to even out the layer (otherwise your bars will bake up lopsided). Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Step 2—Make batter: Combine your 2 cups of mashed bananas and sour cream with a fork. Add the oil, sugar, egg, vanilla, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fork-whisk well (or use an electric mixer) to blend until smooth. Now add your flour and mix until a lumpy batter forms, but do not over-mix at this stage.
Step 3—Create chocolate bottom: Remove 1 cup batter and place it into a separate bowl. Add cocoa and espresso powder, fork-whisking until the batter is smooth. Fold in chocolate chips, and (optional) chopped walnuts.
Step 4—Assemble and bake: Spread the chocolate batter across the entire bottom of the prepared pan. Take your time, using the back of a spoon to spread the batter all the way into the corners. Be sure the layer is even. Now pour your remaining banana batter on top and once again use the back of a spoon to even out the layer (otherwise your bars will bake up lopsided). Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
QUICK KITCHEN HACK
TO RIPEN BANANAS FAST: Place yellow bananas on a foil-covered baking sheet and bake at 350 F. for 10 minutes, turning once. Bananas will blacken. Peel right away (be careful, they’re hot!) and cool flesh in fridge before mashing.
Foodie
P h o t o s
Click here to download a free PDF
of this recipe that you can print,
save, or share.
of this recipe that you can print,
save, or share.
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| Click here to download the PDF. |
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COFFEEHOUSE MYSTERY
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Melissa Nunez!
Today we're giving we gave away an autographed audio version of our Coffeehouse Mystery DEAD TO THE LAST DROP in a beautiful keeper CD format.
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Eat (and read) with joy!
