Banana Split Bars
Who doesn’t love a classic banana split? Now, imagine all that deliciousness transformed into the perfect bars! These Banana Split Bars are not just a tasty treat; they’re a delightful way to enjoy your favorite ice cream flavors in a grab-and-go version. With a buttery crust, creamy banana layer, and a rich chocolate topping, these bars bring all the banana split vibes without the mess!
Ingredients
- For the crust:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour you can swap this for gluten-free flour if needed!
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- For the filling:
- 2 ripe bananas mashed
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts walnuts or pecans work great
- For the topping:
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 cup maraschino cherries for decoration!
- Sprinkles because why not?
Instructions
- Preheat your oven: First things first, let’s get our oven warmed up! Preheat it to 350°F (175°C). You want it nice and toasty for our crust!
- Mix the crust ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine your flour, powdered sugar, softened butter, and salt. Mix until it forms a crumbly dough. Don’t worry if it looks a little crumbly; that’s how it’s supposed to be!
- Press it into the pan: Grab an 8x8 inch baking pan (or a similar size) and press the crust mixture down firmly and evenly. You want it to be nice and compact. Bake this crust in your preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until it’s a lovely golden brown.
- Prepare the filling: While the crust is baking, let’s create that yummy filling! In a bowl, mash up those ripe bananas until they’re nice and smooth. Then add in the heavy whipping cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and chopped nuts. Give it a good mix until everything is well combined! It’s gonna smell heavenly in your kitchen!
- Assemble the layers: Once your crust is out of the oven and cooled for a bit, pour the banana filling on top. Spread it out evenly with a spatula. Pop it back in the oven for another 15 minutes to let everything cook together!
- Melt the topping: While you wait for the filling to bake, let’s whip up that chocoholic’s delight! In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. This will make your topping super glossy!
- Top it off: After the bars come out from their final bake, pour that melted chocolate over the top, spreading it gently to cover everything. Add your maraschino cherries and sprinkles on top for that extra fun flair!
- Let it cool: This is the hardest part—waiting! Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan at room temperature. Once cool, pop them in the fridge for about 1 hour, to set everything nicely.
- Slice and serve: After everything’s cool and set, it’s time for the best part. Slice these bars into delightful squares and serve them up! Trust me, the first bite will have everyone asking for another!