In the spirit of all things banana bread, I needed more.
Chocolate.
Walnuts.
Coconut.
I wanted it all.
Not in loaf form, but in bars. With pretty sliced bananas.
And being as Beastie Boys was played at every single school dance I ever attended, this shall be named, “That Funky Monkey Banana Bars.” If you don’t immediately know the reference – get out. Go.
Just kidding.
Please stay.
Here’s a joke courtesy of my 5-year old that is all about telling jokes lately:
Q: What did the banana say to the other banana?
A: WANNA EAT A BANANA?
Get it? Get it? They’re bananas and eating bananas?!
She’s always her best audience.
Ingredients:
4 Bananas – 2 for mashing and 2 for topping – do not act like you don’t have bananas sitting on your counter, dying, like the rest of us
1 C. Almond Flour, extra fine (just like you, you go girl)
½ C. Peanut Butter – I used Extra Chunky, but creamy works. Almond Butter works too!
¼ C Water
¼ C. Chocolate Chips, chopped – I love Lily’s Milk Chocolate Baking Chips, plus more for topping
¼ C. Walnuts, chopped plus more for topping
¼. Shredded coconut, unsweetened
1 tbsp. brown sugar – I used Truvia Brown Sugar
1 tbsp. maple syrup – I used Lakanto Maple Syrup
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1-2 tsp. Vanilla extract, I didn’t exactly measure here so it’s a guestimate
1 tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp Kosher Salt
Directions:
1 – Preheat your oven to 350.
2 – Mash 2 of those ‘nanners in a large bowl.
3 – Add all the other ingredients except the maple syrup, the other 2 bananas, and chocolate and walnut toppings.
4 – Combine well. Should be pretty easy and smooth.
5 – Spray an 8×5 pan (or whatever you have) and pour the mixture in there smoothing it out.
6 – Slice the 2 remaining bananas in half, length-wise and put them in there. Make it pretty.
7 – Sprinkle the walnuts and chocolate on top like Salt Bae.
8 – THEN drizzle that maple syrup over the whole. dang. thing.
9 – Bake for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting in…though I won’t judge you if you can’t wait that long.
Done.
Holy smokes, isn’t she pretty??
You could do this and make them cookies. Use a scoop and top them with banana medallions. Walla! – breakfast cookies.
But Christie, I have the store-bought banana bread mix! Well my friend, use it! I’ve made 3 loafs with that stuff lately and it’s good every time. Feel free to get fancy with it. Mix in some peanut butter, walnuts, or chocolate, or all of it! Just because a recipe starts from a box doesn’t mean you can’t put your own spin on it. Not everything has to be from scratch. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
Enjoy!
