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Crunchy Banana Toffee Monkey Bars
Crunchy Banana Toffee Monkey Bars
1 ¼ cups dried banana chips
1 cup chocolate covered almonds
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter chips
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup white sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 Tablespoon banana liqueur or 1 teaspoon banana extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup white chocolate chips
½ cup toffee baking chips
Pre-heat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray, set aside. Place banana chips and chocolate covered almonds in a large zip top plastic bag. Using a mallet or heavy can, pound bag until pieces appear coarsely chopped, set aside. In a large sized microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute, stir until smooth. If necessary return to microwave for 15 second intervals until melted. Allow to cool 5 minutes. Add sugars and mix well. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and banana liqueur. Mix well until thoroughly combined. Add the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine. Stir in banana chips and almonds until just combined. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle white chocolate chips and toffee chips over batter. Bake for 30-35 minutes. A toothpick inserted in center should come out with moist crumbs. Remove pan to rack. Cool for 15 minutes. Cut into 18 squares. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil. Refrigerate until chilled. Yield: 18 Bars
Growing up, my daughter’s favorite after-school snack was a peanut butter and banana sandwich…using the banana instead of bread. She also spent many an afternoon making one-bowl brownies for family and friends to enjoy. One rainy day, we didn’t quite have all the ingredients for either snack, so we raided the pantry and came up with a delicious bar cookie. These bar cookies combine the best of both worlds, a brownie with my daughter’s favorite snack flavors. The use of dried bananas, almonds and toffee chips give it a great crunch in contrast to the chewiness of the brownie. Over the years, we have made improvements to this recipe, adding the toffee chips, when they became available, and using banana liqueur to enhance the banana flavor. My daughter has long since left home and started her own family, but when I make these bars, I am always taken back to that stormy, yet fun filled day. My greatest joy has been serving these bars to my granddaughters. Now they can enjoy their mom’s favorite after school treat in a whole new way!
on 05/19/07 |
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