My friend adapted this bar recipe from a regular cookie recipe. She serves them on girls' nights, and they're the first things that get snarfed up. I use very ripe (or frozen) bananas, and the richness of them makes these more fudgy than cakey, so they may be what you want.

Banana Chocolate Chip Bars
3 c. unsifted all-purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1-1/2 t. salt
1 c. butter
3/4 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 t. vanilla (I use 1 t. almond extract instead; you can also use both)
1 c. mashed bananas (about 2 bananas' worth)
1 12-oz. pkg. chocolate chips (I like GhirardelliÂs 60%, but any kind is fine)
pinch of cardamom is optional (I rarely add it)

Preheat oven to 350º.

Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Beat together butter and sugars. Add egg and extracts, beating well. Blend in bananas. Add dry ingredients, blending well. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in greased 9" x 13" pan. Bake until golden, about 30 minutes.

Thanks, Maureen Me. I'll try the recipe and let you know

That recipe sounds great but I am wondering if they are very banana-y tasting? Only two bananas? I usually put 3 in just one loaf of banana bread.

You're welcome, Papanda.

They taste very banana-y, Stir fryi. The riper the bananas, the more banana-y they taste, and two bananas is just an estimate--three or more if they're smallish. But I'm sure you can use more if you want without screwing up the recipe.

maureen me,
I tried the recipe and it was very good but still tasted and looked like cake. I'm looking for the consistency of brownies.

I made these and they were pretty good.
Dense and moist. I used sweetened coconut because that's what I had on hand. I baked mine just a few minutes more.
It also happens to be pretty diet friendly and gluten free (as long as you have gluten free oats). Bonus!
The website where I found it is listed at the bottom.

Deanna

Wholesome Banana Chocolate Breakfast Bars

2 cups rolled oats or mixed rolled grains
2/3 cup ground flax meal
1/3 cup dried, unsweetened grated coconut
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
4 1/4 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate
4 very ripe, medium bananas
1/2 teaspoon natural vanilla extract
1/4 cup canola oil

Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 8x8 pan with non stick spray.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oats, flax, coconut, and salt. Set aside.
Chop the chocolate so the largest pieces are about the size of a chocolate chip. Set aside.

In another medium mixing bowl, combine the bananas, vanilla, and canola oil, and mash thoroughly using a potato masher.
Add the oats mixture and mix well.
Fold the chocolate in gently.

Pour into the prepared baking dish, level the surface, and slip into the oven.
Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is set and golden-brown.
Let cool completely before slicing into bars. If you're not serving all the bars at once, I suggest you cut out only what you need.
Cover the rest with foil and keep at room temperature.

http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2008/11/wholesome_banana_chocolate_breakfast_bars.php

I think I know what you're looking for, like a dense moist banana brownie? Did you want frosted ones? I'm going to try this recipe because I'm always looking for ways to use up bananas...

½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas (2 large or 3 medium bananas)
½ cup full-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting:
6 ounces cream cheese
4 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons milk or cream
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

* For the bars, cream together butter and both sugars.
* Add eggs, mixing in well; stir in bananas.
* Dissolve soda in sour cream.
* Add flour, salt and cinnamon to batter alternately with sour cream mixture, until batter is well blended.
* Pour batter into greased 10x15 baking sheet.
* Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.
* Cool completely before frosting.
* For frosting, mix all ingredients together with electric mixer (using a mixer will tend to give you a fluffier frosting than mixing by hand).
* Spread over cooled bars.

Sorry those didn't fill the bill. I guess everyone has a different idea of what constitutes cakey. Maybe you should try cutting the leavening agents from whatever recipe you audition next. Good luck!

jonsgirl,
Please let me know how they came out.

OP here,
This recipe for Oatmeal Bars is the consistency that I'm looking for but banana flavored. The next time, I'll add 1/4 c. more sugar.
Oatmeal Bars

1/2 c. butter at room temp.
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c.brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. sifted flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 c. mini chocolate chips
1/2 c. quick cooking oatmeal
Cream butter and sugars, blend in egg and vanilla, Stir in remaining ingredients.Spread evenly into an 8" square pan, greased and floured (I used parchment paper instead)
Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 min.

Anyone know how I can convert this recipe to Banana Bars?