I have asked this before, and I will ask it again! Is there a better combination than Chocolate AND Banana? I am sure the answer will be no, and even if its a yes, you still can’t deny that it is one of the better combinations out there, am I right? Presenting my Chocolate Banana Squares!

These Chocolate Banana Squares are composed of a dense, chewy yet moist Banana Blondie base layer, with a quick and easy to assemble Chocolate Ganache spread over it. So what’s the twist here that makes it so different? Well, stick around to know! I will just start straight with the method.

For the method, both the banana blondies and chocolate ganache require only one bowl each. Perhaps an additional one for mashing the bananas. But that’s about it.

The clean up is pretty much relatively straightforward and easy, and there aren’t any special techniques except one!

This special technique requires you to just mix everything together in a bowl, using a whisk or a spoon. How difficult is that right? I frankly didn’t even bother with the whisk and just make do with my spoon. It is a one pot, one spoon recipe!

Even the assembly stage is easy. YOU CANNOT GO WRONG. All you will be doing is just spread the chocolate spread over the top of the banana blondies and just let them rest in the fridge. That’s all.

No matter how ugly you think it might turn out, it will never be ugly. It is the fairest blondies, and the fairest chocolate banana squares out there. Chocolate will never be ugly! Just look at this!

Fudgy Chocolate Banana Squares Recipe by Bakeomaniac

How about the ingredients?

It is still pretty much the same except for the Banana Blondies base layer. An appreciable amount of sugar is removed from the original recipe. I know. The chocolate could already add another sweet element to this recipe, but that’s not all. That brings me to the next point!

I will strongly recommend you to use at least semisweet chocolate chips ( which is 50% cocoa ) for the ganache mixture. The darker the chocolate you use, the more there will be a pleasant balance between the natural sweetness of overripe bananas and the slight bitterness of the chocolate layer.

Oh, and since I am at the topic of overripe bananas! Well, the riper the bananas, the better it is. For some instances when I am not using overripe bananas, I will taste the bananas prior to deciding whether if it is suitable to be used in my baking recipes. This is to ensure that the bananas have at least a noticeable flavour on its own before I even put them in the oven. Else, there will not be any banana flavour in the final product ( happened to me before! ). If using just ripen bananas, I would suggest adding more, perhaps about 20 to 30 grams more?

My gosh, at times I feel like that naggy mother. I just want whoever who is using my recipes to be able to achieve their best, so please do forgive me!

Fudgy Chocolate Banana Squares Recipe by Bakeomaniac

Finally, here is the original Banana Blondies recipe ( can be clicked ) that has a video attached to it if you need guidance ( click the link, and play the video ) and also the original Chocolate Ganache recipe ( can be clicked, if you need more detailed information on how to make it! ).

This is the base layer!

Without further ado, let’s go now to the recipe!

Fudgy Chocolate Banana Squares
by Javier Tan January-1-2018

New year, same old me but a new recipe! No better way to celebrate a new year but baking into it with a harmonious combination of Chocolate and Banana. They are especially nicely fudgy when its refrigerated!

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup or 120g All Purpose or Plain Flour
  • 1/3 Cup + 1 Teaspoon or 80g Light Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 Cup or 50g Granulated White Sugar
  • 1/4 Teaspoon or 1/4g Table Salt
  • 1/4 Teaspoon or 1.25ml Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 Cup or 115g Unsalted Butter, Melted and Cooled to Room Temperature
  • 180g Mashed Bananas, About 3-4 Medium Sized Bananas
  • 1 Large Egg, at Room Temperature, Weighs about 55-60g inclusive of Shell

For Chocolate Ganache

  • 90g or slightly less than 1/2 Cup of Chocolate Chips / Chunks
  • 80g or 80ml or Heavy Whipping Cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C or 350F. Line the base of your 8 x 8 inches baking tray with parchment paper or grease it well
  2. Mix together melted butter and the two sugars, stirring until all sugar has dissolved.
  3. Add in the egg, mashed bananas, vanilla and salt and stir until well combined.
  4. Add in the all purpose flour and stir until just combined. Do not over mix or the final product might have bread-like consistency.
  5. Bake for about 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick or skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  6. Cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, start making the chocolate ganache.
  7. Set aside 90g of Semisweet Chocolate Chips or Chunks in a bowl. The heated heavy whipping cream must be able to cover all of the chocolate later.
  8. Heat up heavy whipping cream in a saucepan at low or medium low heat until it starts having a couple of bubbles.
  9. Turn off the heat and pour the heavy whipping cream over and into the bowl containing the chocolate. Time 5 minutes.
  10. Stir until you produce a thicker consistency and let it set aside for about 20 minutes.
  11. Spread the chocolate ganache all over the Banana Blondies without having to remove it from the tray. The tray gives you a guideline, and this saves you a lot of mess!
  12. Cool in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving!13) Serve and Enjoy!

Details

  • Prep time: 30 mins
  • Cook time: 20 mins
  • Total time: 50 mins
  • Yield: 1 8″ x 8″ Tray

Notes:

  1. Keep well at room temperature for up to 12 hours, but you are strongly recommended to refrigerate it and consume within 2 to 3 days. The best way is to refrigerate them in a container to prevent the base banana layer from drying out.
  2. To pin it or yum it, Save
  3. For any questions, feel free to contact me via any of my social medias ( accounts are at the side bar ) or via the comment section down below! Feel free to drop feedback, praises and criticisms as well!
  4. If you would like to thank me, do share your creation or / and this recipe, and tag or give me a mention! I appreciate it a lot!
  5. I don’t do this for every post, but hey, Happy New Year!!

With Much Love,
Bakeomaniac Javier