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Chocolate Bottom Banana Squares

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By dessertsyum · November 18, 2009 · 11 Comments · 4,931 Views

The name says it all!

I had so much fun with this recipe. I swear! It was incredibly moist and soft. Plus point: everybody in my family loves bananas and they're readily available in the supermarket.

I hadn't done a great job though, there's supposed to be two distinct coloured layers (yellow cake on the brown cocoa cake, you can click on the original link to see the cake). I admit I don't know my Malaysia oven as well I know my Singapore's one, the temperature tends to be higher although it is a bigger oven and my pastries/cakes often brown quickly. 

Wait, you might be curious why I've been travelling between these two countries and even bake in Malaysia? My dad is a Malaysian and manages his business in Malaysia! :) My mum, on the other hand is a Singaporean. As for me, I'm born in Singapore and is also a Singapore citizen, but since I'm always in Malaysia during the school holidays, I concluded that if one day I'm going to record down my biography, I'd be doing it with the help of a passport. LOL! :D In fact I'm likely to be one of the students with the most pages of my passport stamped because of this frequent travel haha!

Okay, I digressed. My dad likes these squares a lot! (which is rare.... I mean, really...) He seldom compliments my cakes/cookies and the number of times he does that, I can tell you, it's less than the number of fingers on my hand -.- If asked, I'm sure to say it's because he has an odd taste/likings which is more chinese-style and traditional. He doesn't like cream and he doesn't eat cheesescakes and soft cookie, even when he does, I feel that he's actually recognizing it as a cake more than a cookie -laughs- Yup, so it pleased me to know he enjoyed these banana squares :)

I topped walnuts on half of the cake batter although they were not included in the recipe (I think you heard enough of my "I added walnuts because my mum likes walnuts" yeah? Haha). The other half were mainly chocolate chips (for myself =P) which complemented the fragrance of the bananas perfectly. Also, the owner of this recipe was right about the light and natural sweetness of these squares which came partly from the bananas. Whatsmore, I think I'd enough of sugar from my Hello Dollies yesterday. HAHA.

Recipe from here, makes 24 squares

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups mashed banana (about 3 medium bananas)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions: 

1. In mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, and bananas, beating thoroughly.
2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, soda, baking powder, and salt. Add to creamed mixture and mix well.
3. Divide batter in half. Add the cocoa to one portion of the batter. Spread that portion in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Spoon remaining batter on top, swirling gently with butter knife if desired, and sprinkle with chocolate chips.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until batter tests done with a toothpick or fork. Cool and cut into 24 squares.

 

I halved the recipe and baked them in an 8 inches square cake pan but I'd suggest you to use a 9 x 13 inch cake pan (as stated in the recipe). You won't have any problem finishing them because they were greaat. I've no idea how I can reiterate this so I'm just going to categorize them under my favourites! :) Remember to use ripen bananas too but if you cant bake these on the same day then you might wish to place your bananas in the fridge. You've to use them the next day though. They will look a little blackish on the surface but still nice and yellow when peeled open =)

Happy baking.

posted by Audax Artifex
Wed, 18/11/2009 - 22:59

Well what can I say you are becoming a professional food-blogger congratulations on all the mentions on foodie sites. And your squares look perfect to me love your photography the 1st pix is so delicious looking well done on this recipe. Oh about the higher temperature in your oven maybe placing an empty baking sheet below and above your recipe will help even out the temperature and ensure even baking of your recipe, I use a baking stone on the bottom shelf of my oven which really helps with hot/cold spots in the oven. Superb work and the passport stamp LOL LOL. I hope your exams went well - great to hear you Dad liked them maybe the few desserts he does like should be included in your 1st fusion baking cookbook. And thanks for visiting my blog and your kind words. Cheers from Audax in Australia. Here is a link to a site that gives advice about writing an e-book http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/09/16/thirteen-steps-to-write-an... I think you should think about it you are a natural. Audax


Thu, 19/11/2009 - 11:32

These look amazing! I love the sound of these - such amazing flavours =D.


posted by Astra Libris
Sat, 21/11/2009 - 06:55

I am positively swooning with delight over these gorgeous chocolate banana squares! Smiling I just happen to have some ripe bananas on hand, too, so I'm printing the recipe out right now! Smiling Thank you so much for the fantastic recipe!


posted by
Sat, 21/11/2009 - 09:53

Audax - Hahaha, okay thanks a lot. I checked out that site already! Laughing out loud
All - Thank you! Laughing out loud


posted by banquet manager
Mon, 23/11/2009 - 05:00

Hello,
I just came across your blog and enjoyed it very much. I'm a banquet manager and write a blog about the daily aggravations that go with my job...from cranky chefs to nasty customers and everything in between. I hope you enjoy it. Please visit and leave a comment. Have a great day!
So You Want To Be a Banquet Manager


posted by MaryMoh
Sat, 12/12/2009 - 14:57

What a lovely combination...chocolate and bananas. Looks very delicious. I would love to have that with a cup of hot chocolate now....mmm


posted by Alisa@Foodista
Thu, 14/01/2010 - 17:57

What a great combination, I'm definitely making this!


posted by julieann705
Thu, 18/02/2010 - 04:39

Hi (: Question...I made these the other day but mine came out more cake-like than brownie like [which yours seems more brownie like]. They taste pretty good but any ideas on what maybe I did wrong? I want mine to look like yours! They look SO GOOD!!


posted by
Sun, 21/02/2010 - 22:47

Hello julieann705,

Thanks! But I remembered mine tasted like cakes too, just alittle moister and heavier. In my opinion, they did not taste brownie like at all, I would think it's the pictures that make them appear to be brownie-like Smiling I am glad you tried anyway! Cheers, happy baking!


posted by pekingduck11
Fri, 16/04/2010 - 15:23

I just came across your blog and the pics look gorgeous!

I got hungry just looking at them!

Nice!


posted by
Fri, 16/04/2010 - 23:56

Thank you! Laughing out loud


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