BANANA-OATMEAL BARS WITH CHOCOLATE CHUNKS

Banana-Oatmeal Bars with Chocolate Chunks image

Provided by Nancy Grubin

Yield Makes about 3 dozen bars

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 2.6-ounce bars mild sweet chocolate (such as Hershey's Special Dark), cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 cup pecans, toasted, chopped

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 15x10x1-inch baking sheet. Blend first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add both sugars and beat until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas, then vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, then chocolate and pecans.
Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean and top is golden, about 45 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Cut into 3x2-inch bars and serve.