Banana S’mores Peanut Butter Cup Bars

If banana bread already isn’t your thing, then this recipe may not be for you. Then again…if you like cake then I wouldn’t exactly call this banana bread. I love banana bread, but I’m actually not a huge fan of bananas themselves. I love the texture bananas create when used in baking, and I wanted to turn the typical banana bread recipe up a notch because, you know, sometimes the sweet tooth dictates. A little va-va-voom, if you will. And that’s how these banana s’mores peanut butter cup bars were born.

If you can envision this combo then you know what I’m talking about. Ooey-gooey peanut butter fluff goodness in banana cake-like bars. I couldn’t believe how delicious these turned out the first time that once they were gone I immediately made another batch.

They are unbelievably fluffy and so, so, so moist. When served warm, they actually have a fudge brownie gooeyness to them – not even kidding. Maybe it was the ideal baking time that made all the difference, but even after 3 days on the counter, they’re STILL moist.

And who doesn’t love a s’mores combo! Sure, I used mini peanut butter cups in this one, but everyone’s had a peanut butter banana sandwich before, right? And peanut butter with marshmallow fluff? Exactly, which is why I knew this recipe combination with a banana base would not disappoint.

Ok, but is it a snack, dessert, or what? Spread a layer of marshmallow fluff over the top and you have yourself the perfect cake for any party or gathering. Enjoy these as a mid-day treat or late-night snack (for LESS than 350 calories a bar, might I add), like I have, or pack one of these squares in your kiddo’s lunch. You could even serve these up for Sunday breakfast. Seriously, these baked goodies are no different from cinnamon rolls, so who’s judging here!?

I specifically used a 9×9 square baking pan for this recipe (get one with a lid for easy storing), but you can easily accommodate this with an 8×10. You could also use a loaf pan or 9×12 but expect to adjust the cooking time. You do NOT want to overbake these babies!

Cost breakdown for the Banana S’mores Peanut Butter Cup Bars

*Note: Item costs can vary based on location, inflation, brand, quality and sale price. I do my best to buy/suggest the most cost-effective option. I also may not factor certain ingredients into the price where their amounts have an inconsiderable impact, such as salt, oil or baking powder.

Money-saving tips

• Buy what’s on sale or the most cost effective (i.e., if you bake a lot, buying the bigger bag is the most cost-effective option)
• If you already have it in your pantry or fridge, duh, don’t buy it!
• Consider swaps (you don’t necessarily need to buy fresh – i.e., canned or frozen peaches will still make a delicious pie)
• Only buy the amount you need to make the recipe – i.e., if the recipe only calls for 2 lemons, only buy 2 single lemons, don’t buy the bag!
• The price difference between organic, non-organic, fresh and frozen options – organic/frozen can be the most cost effective (i.e., depending on brand/store, if it’s on sale or BOGO).

You might also like:

Toasted Coconut Pudding Dip – It’s light, fresh, and a tropically creamy dessert dream – this homemade toasted coconut pudding dip recipe is one for the books. Obviously, you have to be a coconut fan to love this recipe, but who doesn’t like pudding?

Banana S’mores Peanut Butter Cup Bars

For my banana, banana bread and anything banana dessert lovers - this one takes the cake, literally. It might be offensive to call this banana bread when the base is as moist and fluffy as cake. To top it all off, these bars are garnished with peanut butter cups and toasted marshmallows for extra ooey-gooeyness. It's the perfect recipe for any gathering, party or bon fire treat. You could even serve this recipe for breakfast!

Author: Carissa Cooking Method: Baked Cuisine: Sweet Courses: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack Recipe Keys: Baked

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 25 mins Rest Time 10 mins Total Time 45 mins Difficulty: Beginner Cooking Temp: 350  F Servings: 9 Calories: 2962 Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Servings

• 3 Bananas (ripe)
• 1 Cup Brown sugar (packed)
• 1 Egg

• 1 Tsp Vanilla extract (*if you don't have it, don't worry about it!)

• 1 ¹⁄₂ Cups All-purpose flour (bread/cake flour also work, too)
• ¹⁄₄ Cup Butter (unsalted)

• 1 Tsp Baking soda

• ¹⁄₂ Tsp Salt

Banana bar toppings

• 1 Cup Peanut butter cups (mini cups (1 cup or ~10 pieces))

• ¹⁄₃ Cup Marshmallows (mini (1/3 cup or ~18 pieces))

Baking equipment you'll need

• 1 9x9 inch Baking pan (8x10 works, too)
• Parchment paper

Instructions

1. First things first, right now would be a good time to stick your peanut butter cups and marshmallows in the freezer (trust me). Then preheat your oven to 350F.
2. In a mixing bowl, mash up your three ripe bananas using a fork (mash 'em good).
3. Then add in your cup of packed brown sugar and egg to the bowl. Using that fork, or a whisk, mix everything together thoroughly. *You might notice the banana has actually made the contents runnier at this point - that's okay!
4. If you have your vanilla extract, add that to the bowl, and also 1/2 tsp of salt. Then add 1/4 cup melted or softened butter. Mix again.
5. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour to the bowl with 1 tsp of baking soda. Then, using a spatula now, gently fold in the flour until everything is incorporated.
6. Fit a piece of parchment paper for your baking pan. Then pour the mixture (this will be like a cake batter consistency) into the pan and use your spatula to spread it evenly. Set aside.
7. Now take your PB cups and marshmallows out of the freezer. You're going to chop up your PB cups into smaller chunks and add them to the top of your batter, along with the marshmallows. You can use your finger to push them deeper into the batter if you wish or leave them strictly as a topping.

8. Now bake for 20-25 minutes at 350F, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. *Remember, every oven is different, so be sure to check the state of your bars earlier than too late.

9. Remove from the oven to cool for 10 minutes or so before cutting into. These are so delicious warm and straight out of the oven.
10. To store, simply place the bars in an air-tight container or ziploc bag. These can be stored in the fridge for up to 7-10 days or on the counter for 3-4 days.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 9

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 329kcal

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Note

*Eat Rich Live Full is not a nutritionist or dietitian. For nutritional information, it is advised to refer to a nutritionist, dietitian or an online nutritional resource calculator. Nutritional information can vary depending on ingredients, ingredient types and brands used for each recipe.

Keywords: banana, banana bread, banana bars, s'mores, peanut butter cups, s'mores bars, banana cake, cake recipe, easy dessert, dessert recipe, 9x9 pan,