Chocolate Banana Nana Bars

Moist, cake-like bars that incorporate chocolate, bananas & peanut butter chips.  Good as dessert or snacks.  Wrap tightly or store in an air tight container to maintain moistness.

Ingredients

1 c sugar
1 stick butter, softened
3 medium bananas, mashed
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 c unsweetened cocoa
1/3 c chocolate chips
1/3 c peanut butter chips
Confectioners' sugar for dusting

Makes about 36 bars.

Preheat oven to 350*. Grease a 9x13 pan. Combine the sugar and butter in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed, scraping the bowl several times, until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add the bananas, egg and vanilla and continue beating and scraping the bowl until well mixed, 1-2 minutes longer. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and stir with a whisk to blend. Add to the banana mixture and beat on low speed for 1-2 minutes, scraping the bowl several times, until the batter is well mixed.

Measure out 1 1/2 cups of the batter and place in a separate bowl.  Add the peanut butter chips.  Drop by spoonfuls into the prepared pan, leaving gaps for the chocolate batter. Add the cocoa to the remaining batter and beat on low speed for about 30 seconds.  Mix in the chocolate chips.  Drop by spoonfuls into the pan, covering the bottom.  Using an offset spatula lightly and carefully smooth the batter so it is even across the pan without mixing the two batters too much for a black & white effect.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Just before serving, dust with confectioners' sugar.  Cut into bars.