Banana Chocolate Cookie Bars

The combination of banana, peanut butter, and chocolate is one of my favorite. Writing about it right now makes me hungry and very disappointed I just finished the last of these bars I made earlier this week. This recipe combines everything in one delicious bite- chocolate cookie base with a more banana bread like layer on top. I really liked the banana layer, so next time I will divide the dough so I have 1/3 for the chocolate cookie base and 2/3 for the banana layer. I added the peanut butter chips to the banana layer only, but the chocolate base could benefit for their extra flavor and texture.

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 banana, mashed
1 cup peanut butter chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Cream together the butter with the sugars. Add vanilla extract and the egg.

Split dough in half. To one half, add the mashed banana and peanut butter chips. To the other half, add the cocoa powder. Put the chocolate dough in the bottom of a loaf pan and put the banana dough on top.

Bake for 20 minute. Cool completely before serving.

Yields 12 servings.