Black Bottom Banana Bars

Apparently, I'm not buying bananas according to Eric's preference.  Apparently, he wants them bought when they are literally green and not even remotely ripe.  I buy bananas that are yellow so when he lets me go to the grocery store alone, I buy enough yellow bananas for the both of us for the week and byTuesday, he apparently has had his last banana.  Whatever.  He gives me an excuse to bake then.

1/2 c butter, softened
1 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 c baking cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Grease a 13x9 pan.  In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add egg, extract, and bananas.  Beat until well combined.  Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda.  Add to butter mixture and beat until just combined.  Divide batter in half.  Add cocoa powder to one half of batter and beat well.  Spread cocoa mixture into pan.  Spoon other half of batter on top of cocoa mixture.  Bake 25 minutes or until fork comes out clean.

Chocolate Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies aka Dirty Moneky Cookies

Another item for my 'banana tour in the baking world.'  I found this recipe in one of my cookie recipe books and altered it a little since banana can be an overwhelming flavor in baked goods.  They remind me of a drink that Hearn and our friends were drinking in Key West this summer called the Dirty Monkey (I had a small sip to see why they were all obsessed with the frozen concoction).  These are more of a cake-like type cookie than what you are used to with a typical chocolate chip cookie.  Anyway, the original recipe called for 3 dozen.  I think I just make bigger cookies because I ended up with 2 dozen.  Either way, they are delicious-nice moist cookie with good chocolate flavor and just the right amount of banana flavor to make you think you are eating something healthy.

5 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c ripe, mashed bananas (about 2 medium)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 c semi sweet chocolate chip morsels

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Prepare 2 large cookie sheets; grease.  In a bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Blend in egg, vanilla, and mashed bananas.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder.  Blend into creamed mixture.  Stir in morsels.  Drop spoonfuls on batter onto prepared cookie sheets and bake for 10-11 minutes or until edges start to brown.  Move to a cooling rack.  Cool completely before storing.

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I've been a blog posting slacker as of late.  For the holidays, I made three goodies trays: one for each of our parents and one for a friend who was having a holiday party.  I made a variety of baked goods, which included: Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, Pumpkin Cookies with Vanilla Glaze, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Homemade Brownies, Graveyard Cookies, and this... Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.  I've realized through my 'tour of the use of banana in baking' that banana really makes baked goods moist and delicious... and besides, you don't feel as guilty eating a cookie or cake when it has fruit in it... because it's 100% healthy, right?  Right?!?!  Anyway, this was no exception.

1/2 c butter, softened

1 1/2 c sugar

2 eggs

1 c sour cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 c)

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 c butter, softened

2 tsp vanilla extract

3 3/4 to 4 c confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla.  Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Gradually add into the creamed mixture.  Mix in bananas.  Spread into a greased 13x9 pan.  Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool.

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.  Gradually, beat in enough confectioner's sugar to achieve desired consistency.  Frost cooled cake.  Cover, store in frig.

Banana Nut Brownies

I've been buying bananas in excess again but slightly because I have found a plethora of banana recipes I want to try.  This is called a brownie recipe but I would like to taste more chocolate than you do in this one.  Maybe a handful of semi sweet morsels would help...  Anyway, Eric said he's assuming they are healthy since they contain fruit :)

1 stick butter, melted and cooled
1 c sugar
3 tbsp baking cocoa
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 small ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 c chopped nuts
Confectioner's sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F.  In bowl combine butter, sugar, and cocoa.  Stir in eggs, milk, and vanilla.  Blend in flour and baking powder.  Stir in banana and nuts.  Pour into a greased 8x8 square pan and bake 45 minutes or until the top of brownies spring back when you touch.  Cook on a wire rack.  Dust with confectioner's sugar just before serving if desired.

Banana Crumb Muffins

We've begun to overbuy on bananas lately so instead of repeatedly making banana bread, I've been on the hunt for different banana recipes.  I made Banana Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting last week.  I wonder if I'll run out of banana recipes...  Anyway, I actually preferred these cupcakes over last week's.  The nutella frosting was a little rich for me (I cannot believe I just said that!) but I guess when eat a lot of bland food, anything is too rich for you ;)

1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 c sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
5 tbsp butter, melted
1/3 c packed brown sugar
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp butter, softened

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Lightly grease 10 muffin cups or line with muffin papers.  In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  In another bowl, beat together bananas, egg, sugar, vanilla, and melted butter.  Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until moistened.  Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.  Fill to top.  In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, 2 tbsp flour, and cinnamon.  Cut in 1 tbsp softened butter until it resembles a coarse cornmeal type mixture.  Sprinkle topping generously over muffin tops.  Bake for 18-20 minutes or until center of muffin comes out clean.

Banana Cupcakes with Nutella Frosting

I've been getting bored with making banana bread when Eric overbuys on his banana stash for the week and besides, he's actually been judging pretty well and I've been stealing his bananas for my bowl of Special K.  I found this recipe on a coupon blog I frequent and since I recently purchased a jar of Nutella because it was pretty damn cheap, I figured I'd give it a whirl.

Banana Cupcake:
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large very ripe bananas, mashed

Nutella Frosting:
1 c Nutella (nearly all of a 13oz jar)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
8 oz confectioner's sugar (I have a kitchen scale... but eyeballing it, it seemed about 1 1/2 to 2 cups)

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small mixing bowl and set aside.  In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in vanilla and eggs one at a time.  Beat in flour mixture until just combined.  Fold in mashed bananas and mix until well blended.  Spoon into lined muffin cups (makes about 16 cups).  Bake 25-30 minutes or until tester comes out clean.  When finished, cool on a wire rack.

In a large bow, beat Nutella and cream cheese until well combined.  Gradually beat in confectioner's sugar and beat on high until well blended.  Frost cooled cupcakes.