Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Pan Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal. Don't skip the parchment—these Healthy Greek Yogurt Chocolate Banana Bread Bars with Gooey Centers can stick without it, and trust me, cleanup becomes a nightmare!
Step 2: Create the Wet Mixture Base In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, Greek yogurt, honey, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix everything until completely smooth and creamy—this takes about 2 minutes of vigorous stirring, but it's crucial for achieving that perfect tender texture in your bars.
Step 3: Add the Dry Ingredients Gradually stir in the oat flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until just combined. Don't overmix—we want tender, fudgy bars, not tough ones! The batter should look rich and chocolatey, like the most amazing brownie batter you've ever seen.
Step 4: Fold in Chocolate Chunks Carefully fold in the dark chocolate chunks, making sure they're evenly distributed throughout the batter. I always save a few extra chunks to press on top because, let's be real, more chocolate makes everything better in these Healthy Greek Yogurt Chocolate Banana Bread Bars with Gooey Centers.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth the top evenly. Press any remaining chocolate chunks gently into the surface for beautiful presentation. Bake for 22-25 minutes until the edges are set but the center still looks slightly soft—this is the secret to those gooey centers!
Step 6: Cool and Slice Let the bars cool completely in the pan before cutting—this is crucial for clean slices and prevents crumbling. The cooling time allows the structure to set while keeping those centers perfectly gooey.