Rich & Gooey Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Dream Bars

These are so dense and moist and rich, I don’t know that I can quite call it a cake. In fact, it is so dense, it almost tends towards fudge. But go look at the recipe. Oh yes, of course there is chocolate. I promised you chocolate. Very rich and intense chocolate. And yes, peanut butter because what goes better with chocolate than peanut butter? But look after that … see! There’s fruit! and whole grains. And even flaxseed meal, which is full of fiber and those super-powerful Omega 3’s.

About.com says this about flax seed:

“It may be tiny, but it’s mighty: The flax seed carries one of the biggest nutrient payloads on the planet. And while it’s not technically a grain, it has a similar vitamin and mineral profile to grains, while the amount of fiber, antioxidants, and Omega-3 fatty acids in flax leaves grains in the dust.”

So see? When you eat these little chocolate peanut butter dream bars, you don’t have to feel guilty at all.

I can’t take credit for this recipe. I just put a little flaxmeal/yogurt twist on it. This is Alejandra’s recipe. She is the genius that invented this delicacy. She happened to post it on facebook right when I had some bananas growing ever-riper (and I had banana bread already made!), so I really needed something really good to make. And there were these oh-so-yummy-looking chocolate and peanut butter banana bars staring at me.

I went right into the kitchen and got started baking.

Rich & Gooey Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Dream Bars

• 1/2 c. dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 squares of unsweetened baking chocolate
• 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
• 3 small bananas, mashed
• 2 T. fat-free half and half
• 1/3 c. plain lowfat or nonfat yogurt
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1 T. vanilla extract
• 1 c. white whole wheat flour
• 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/4 c. flax meal
• 3/4 t. salt
• 1/2 t. baking soda

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9″ or 8″ square baking pan with cooking spray  and set aside.
2. Combine the chocolate, chocolate chips, and peanut butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir until the chocolate and peanut butter is melted and evenly combined. Remove from heat and let it cool for a moment while you continue on …
3. In a small bowl, mash the bananas, then add the eggs, yogurt, sugar and vanilla extract.
4. Add this lovely mixture to the chocolate/peanut butter in the saucepan.
5. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda, then stir into the wet batter until everything is mixed up well.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing out the top.
7. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until just set. A tester inserted into the center should come out a little bit fudgy, but not wet.
8. Remove from oven and let cool at room temperature for 15 minutes. Set it in the refrigerator to set. Once firm (about 20 minutes), cut into bars and serve.