You will find bananas in most Indian kitchens, especially in Kerala. Kerala grows a huge variety of bananas and the most common ones are plantains or nendranpazham, the smaller varieties like “poovan”, “palayamkodan” and “robusta or morris bananas. Family and friends visiting home were always offered banana with steaming hot filter coffee. Banana fruit (raw and ripe) and the inner stem of some varieties of banana are also used for cooking in Kerala. The banana leaf is used to wrap certain foods for steam cooking. Banana leaves are also our traditional version of eco-friendly plates as we eat off them. Let’s get back today’s post of Chocolate Chip Banana Squares.
The old days are gone and I have to confess to living in Kerala now and not having a banana plant in my backyard yet. I however, am rarely without store bought or gifted bananas of some sort in my fruit basket. That means that there often is a situation where I have pretty ripe bananas that need saving. Most often, they’re made into all manners of bakes including Banana Bread, Rolls, Cake, Pancakes, Ice-cream, Puddings, etc.
I love bananas, and they come second after mangoes as my favourite fruit. Yet, I don’t particularly like banana in most bakes. I’m the only one though, so I’m often baking with bananas. These Chocolate Chip Banana Squares are a firm favourite with the family and quite versatile. Serve them plain with coffee, or tea in place of a coffee cake, or with plain vanilla or chocolate ice-cream for a simple dessert. These are excellent after school snacks to serve to children with a glass of milk.
These particular squares are egg free because the first time I made them I ran out of eggs. I have since continued to make them this way even when I have had eggs on hand. If you bake egg free then you would know that bananas are a good substitute for eggs. Chocolate goes very well with banana so chocolate chips or chunks make these squares extra good. Cardamom makes them extra special but feel free to omit it if it’s not for you. You can completely mash the bananas for this recipe or just so there little chunks of banana in there. I prefer little bits in the mashed banana because it creates a more banana flavour in the bake.
I have a family can be very constructively critical (in a good way) with my food experiments. My husband and near family love these squares. My daughter who doesn’t generally like fruit in bakes pronounced them “quite nice” which is high praise indeed. I’ll confess I have been known to bake these squares even when the bananas haven’t called for them. If you haven’t been convinced to bake these by now, very little probably will. But I will tell you’re missing something good if don’t try hem at least once.
Chocolate Chip Banana Squares
Ingredients
- 75 gm butter softened at room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 large banana mashed (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 to 3 tbsps milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 pods cardamom powdered (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsps baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup chocolate semi-sweet mini chips or chunks
Instructions
- I prefer slightly chunky pieces when I mash bananas for these squares. Mash the banana with the milk using the tines of a fork.
- Put the softened butter and brown sugar in a bowl and beat, using a hand held mixer, till fluffy and creamy. Mix in the mashed banana and vanilla.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into the bowl,. Beat again (on medium speed) till the flour is incorporated into the batter. Fold in the chocolate chips or chunks
- Scrape the batter out into a greased and floured square cake tin (7-inch x 7-inch) and bake at 180C (350F) for about 30 minutes or till done, and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tin for about 5 minutes and then unmould the cake. Cool completely on a rack and cut into squares. This recipe makes 9 big or 16 smaller chocolate chip and banana squares.
I'm Aparna and My Diverse Kitchen is my ovo-lacto vegetarian food blog where you'll find recipes, food stories & photography. I've been blogging since 2007 and believe the kitchen, and the dining table (by extension) is really the heart of a home. 
Beautiful post, A! Loved the way those chips are peeking out of the squares!
They look so heavenly! Thanks for sharing!
I have been looking for an eggless banana cake three days ago … bananas where looking so ripe… I throw them away…:(Banana squares looks really good…:)
Absolutely delicious and yummy..
Bananas and choc chips sound like a great combination!
wow Aparna, they look mouth watering.
These squares look awesome Aparna..your recipe will help me so much when I have my in laws over 🙂
Bananas are amazing. They’re like the perfect food, aren’t they? I bake with them more than I cook, but I really love them best simply on their own. They’re ideal for pre and post workouts too. I love the recipe too!
Nice combination. Makes me drool 🙂
Banana and chocolate chips sounds yum. i have to buy an oven soon to try this kinds of yummmy recipes
erm.. ok wait.. u are from kerala???can’t believe i didnt know that 😀
I will go for these Aparna.After trying your banoffee cupcakes,I have some leftover bananas.So do not be surprised if you see these peeking from my blog too. :DI will vouch for these cake squares.Love the way you clicked them.
Hi,I loved your recipe…will defintely try…[email protected]
Wow nice idea and interesting….looks so gud
banana and chocolate a classic combination and this looks divine! been missing you!
the magazine, glasses and the squares.. classic!
You know, I love banana but for some reason have not much preferred the taste of banana in baked goodies, all the times I have tried it.It seems to be a combination of things which makes it right, but otherwise it just feels like one has slipped in a banana by mistake instead of by design! I’m going to try this recipe and see – the chocolate chips sound promising! Thanks – the squares look very appealing
Cute squares aparna,like to try it soon dear.Thanks for sharing.
When I moved out of Kerala after marriage, one of the things I found most strange is paying for coconuts and curry leaves :-))
Wait.. bananas can be substituted for eggs?? Since when? Where was I when this little piece of knowledge was shared? Wonderful!!
Aparna, this looks so yummy!!
Love these. I wish I had access to really fresh bananas – in the US they’re ALL shipped from far, far away. 🙂
Great recipe. Can’t wait to try it
hi AparnaTried these squares yday!!! They came out great!!! Added a bit of Cocoa powder to ur ingredients, that was for my kiddo!!!Tasted yummy!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Priya, good to hear you liked these squares. More chocolate can make them even better and seems the kiddo already knows that. :)Thanks for getting back to me.
Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments. They are the perfect food in some sense, Susan. Many times when I need a light meal, a banana and a glass of milk is what I have.Nags, I am. I’m surprised too. :)I’m from Kerala but my mother tongue is Tamil.Sweatha, try these out too.Saw your banoffee cupcakes, they’re good.Please do, Sameena.Have been busy and then down with viral fever. Will be in touch soon, Meeta.Thanks, Rachel.You describe it well, Miri. :)They can, Avanika, in some bakes but not in everything.
Hi Aparna..!After tryin out your Custard powder snack cake n Zebra cake this one’s on my list now.. I hate fruits especially banana but after goin thru this recipe i GOT TO TRY IT OUT:).. Wish me luck!Shraddha
Shradz, am really happy to know both those recipes worked for you and you liked them.And lots of luck with these squares. 🙂