If you love the cozy flavor of banana bread but crave something even softer, richer, and easier to slice and serve, these Soft & Chewy Banana Bars are about to become your new favorite dessert. Moist, tender, and packed with real banana flavor, these bars are the perfect hybrid between cake, cookie, and classic banana bread.

Whether you’re baking for a crowd, prepping snacks for the week, or just using up those overripe bananas on your counter, this banana bar recipe delivers big flavor with minimal effort. Each bite is buttery, lightly spiced, and melt-in-your-mouth soft—exactly what a great homemade banana dessert should be.

Why You’ll Love These Banana Bars

There are plenty of banana desserts out there, but these chewy banana bars stand out for a few key reasons:

• Incredibly moist texture
• Deep banana flavor from real ripe bananas
• Soft, cake-like crumb with chewy edges
• Easy one-pan recipe
• Perfect for slicing, packing, and sharing

They’re great for potlucks, lunchbox treats, after-school snacks, or cozy weekend baking.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup brown sugar, packed
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

Optional Add-Ins:
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
In another bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until smooth.
Mix in mashed bananas and sour cream.
Gradually fold in dry ingredients until just combined.
Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
Bake 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely before slicing into bars.

Pro Baking Tips

• Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor.
• Don’t overmix the batter—this keeps the bars soft.
• Let the bars cool fully before cutting for clean edges.

Variations

• Chocolate Chip Banana Bars: Add chocolate chips.
• Nutty Banana Bars: Add walnuts or pecans.
• Cream Cheese Frosted Bars: Top with a light cream cheese glaze.

Serving Suggestions

Serve warm with coffee, chilled with milk, or topped with ice cream for dessert.

Fun Banana Fact 🍌

Bananas are technically berries—and they’re one of the world’s most popular fruits for baking thanks to their natural sweetness and moisture.

These Soft & Chewy Banana Bars are the ultimate cozy treat—easy, nostalgic, and irresistibly good.