Love banana bread? Then you'll love this cookie bar version! I know a lot of people despise the world moist, but there's really no better way to describe the texture of these bars. They're dense, but not overly so, and studded with walnuts and chocolate chips. I added an extra banana to pump up the flavor and the texture and I'm glad I did; there's no mistaking that these are banana bars!

After I sampled a piece, I was a little disappointed that Ryan was taking these to work for his group's food day...I would have had no problem enjoying these for a dessert/snack for a few days! Instead I quickly snapped a few pictures on our doorstep (in the rain I might add!) before he whisked them away and went off to work. Sometimes I really wonder what the neighbors think...

(I then made them a few days later for Ryan's family...subbed pecans for the walnuts and used mini chocolate chips instead. The 9 x 13 pan of them lasted only a few hours!)


One Year Ago: Marinated Cheese


Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Bars
from Apple a Day

Ingredients:
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
-1 tsp coarse salt
-1/2 tsp baking soda
-3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
-1/2 cup granulated sugar
-1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
-1 egg
-1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
-1/2 cup mashed very ripe banana (I used 2)
-1 cup old-fashioned oats
-1 cup chocolate chips
-1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375F. Line a 9 x 13 pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together flours, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until pale and fluffy. With speed on low, mix in egg and vanilla, followed by the bananas.
4. Add the flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir in oats, chocolate chips, and walnuts.
5. Spread dough in prepared pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool pan on wire rack and cut bars into squares when cooled completely.