Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
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These banana bars with cream cheese frosting are a comforting treat made with a moist banana cake topped with a layer of creamy frosting. These bars are both delicious and visually stunning, and are sure to be a new family favorite. Make these tasty bars in just 30 minutes and use up those overripe bananas on your counter in this wonderful alternative to banana bread.
If you’re looking for more recipes to use up extra bananas, don’t miss my banana oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip banana bread!
Quick Look: Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 12 people
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian; can be made Vegan, Gluten Free, & Dairy Free
- Method: Oven Baked
- Technique: Cream the butter and sugar, then add the wet ingredients and gradually mix in the dry ingredients. Spread in a pan and bake, then cool and top with cream cheese frosting.
- Flavor & Texture: These banana bars with cream cheese frosting are super moist and richly flavored. The contrast between the cake-like bar and the creamy frosting is delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
These frosted banana bars are an easy dessert that always turns out perfectly every time! This is my favorite way to use ripe bananas, and I know they will be a hit in your home as well. My kids love eating this homemade treat as an after-school snack, but this easy dessert is perfect as a finisher for any meal.
If you’re looking for more easy desserts, your whole family will love these recipes for bananas flambe with Grand Marnier, banana cream dream pie, and these no bake lemon bars.
Made With Amore,
“This recipe is EXCELLENT! It’s hands down the BEST recipe I have found not only for banana bars but the frosting as well. This was so well written step by step and just overall phenomenal recipe. Thank you so much this one is a keeper going in the books! My daughters absolutely love them.”
– Kari
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
This recipe is for you if you have overripe bananas on your counter! Turn brown bananas into the best banana bread bars with only a few ingredients.
- Sour Cream: This adds an incredibly moist texture to the bars! Swap with Greek yogurt for an equally delicious result.
- Ripe Bananas: Use overripe bananas to infuse lots of natural sweetness, moisture, and banana flavor to the bars. (You can ripen bananas faster by placing them inside a brown bag for a day or two!)
- Cream Cheese: I love using a combination of cream cheese and butter in the frosting to add tanginess and creaminess. Always use full-fat, brick-style cream cheese for the creamiest result.
- Confectioner’s Sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens and thickens the frosting, creating a smooth and spreadable consistency. Sift it first to prevent lumps!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations & Substitutions
- Nutella Swirl: Swirl homemade Nutella over the frosting for rich chocolate-hazelnut flavor.
- Peanut Butter Swirl: Add a swirl of peanut butter to the topping for that classic banana + PB combo.
- Chocolate Chips: Fold in 1 cup or so of chocolate chips into the batter for a gooey, chocolatey bite like in this Italian style cannoli cake!
- Nutty Version: Mix chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds to taste into the batter for crunch and depth.
How to Make Banana Bars
This recipe is easy to follow, with simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, perfect for novice and experienced bakers alike. See the full printable recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
- Cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
- Add the eggs to the mixing bowl one at a time, beating after each addition.
- Beat in the mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Whisk the flour and baking soda in a separate bowl.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and gently stir to form a batter.
- Spread the banana batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown.
- Beat the softened butter and cream cheese until they’re smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioner’s sugar.
- Mix the frosting well.
- Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the banana bars. Garnish with banana slices.
- Cut into pieces and enjoy!
Banana Bars FAQs
Absolutely! These banana bars are delicious on their own without frosting. You can enjoy them plain or dust them with powdered sugar for a simple finishing touch.
Yes, you can use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of regular flour to make gluten-free banana bars. Ensure that all other ingredients are gluten-free as well.
Yes, you can use different types of frosting if you prefer. Cream cheese frosting pairs exceptionally well with banana bars, but you can also try vanilla buttercream, brown butter frosting, chocolate frosting, or even a simple glaze.
Refrigerator: Place the bars in an airtight container or wrap them tightly with plastic wrap. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Room Temperature: If you prefer serving the bars at room temperature, you can leave them out for a few hours before serving. However, keep in mind that the cream cheese frosting may soften or melt slightly at room temperature, especially in warm environments.
Freezer: If you want to store the bars longer, you can freeze them. Wrap individual bars or the entire pan tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or place them in a freezer-safe container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw frozen bars in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Serving Suggestions
These banana bars with cream cheese frosting are perfect to enjoy as a sweet treat after a meal like sausage broccoli pasta, pizza margherita, or Tuscan white bean soup. If your kids want to have this as a snack, round it out with other light recipes like Mexican fruit salad, white bean dip, or bruschetta with mozzarella.
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips
- The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bars will be. Look for bananas with brown spots on the peel, indicating they’re fully ripe.
- Ensure the eggs and butter are at room temperature before starting. Room-temperature ingredients mix more quickly and evenly, resulting in a smoother batter.
- Mix the batter until just combined. Overmixing can result in tough banana bars. Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Insert a toothpick into the center of the bars; it should come out clean or have a few moist crumbs attached. Avoid overbaking, as this can lead to dry bars.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting and sliding off.
Other Easy Bar Recipes to Try
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Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- Best sheet pan jelly roll pan
Ingredients
For the Banana Bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1½ cups mashed ripe bananas, about 3 medium bananas
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 block-style package)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups confectioner's sugar, adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional; great flavor if you want to mix it up!
Instructions
Making the Banana Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan that's at least 1 inch deep and set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking soda.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, mixing until combined. Do not overmix.
- Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. You may tap the pan on the counter a few times to even out the filling.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Making the Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add the vanilla extract and pinch of salt, and beat until well combined.
- Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar, beating well after each addition until the frosting is smooth and spreadable. Adjust the amount of confectioner’s sugar to achieve desired sweetness and consistency.
Frosting the Banana Bars
- Once the banana bars are completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top.For easier spreading, slightly warm the frosting in the microwave for a few seconds.Optional: Garnish with sliced bananas or chopped nuts if desired.
- Cut the frosted banana bars into squares or rectangles. Serve and enjoy these delicious banana bars with cream cheese frosting! Any leftover banana bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Notes
- The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bars will be. Look for bananas with brown spots on the peel, indicating they’re fully ripe.
- Ensure the eggs and butter are at room temperature before starting. Room-temperature ingredients mix more quickly and evenly, resulting in a smoother batter.
- Mix the batter until just combined. Overmixing can result in tough banana bars. Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Insert a toothpick into the center of the bars; it should come out clean or have a few moist crumbs attached. Avoid overbaking, as this can lead to dry bars.
- Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting and sliding off.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These banana bars are absolutely delicious! My family loves bananas but aren’t fans of banana bread, so they were hesitant try these at first. But once they saw I frosted them, everyone wanted a piece—and the whole batch was gone in less than 48 hours! This recipe is way better than banana bread, and we all enjoyed it. We’re already planning to try some variations and add-ins next time!
YES, I agree, better than banana bread, ha! I am thrilled everyone loved these 💙 they never last long at our house either.
This was very very good! I make banana bread quite often but thought I try something a little different and loved it. My husband and daughter hit this hard before I could make the frosting so we ate it without. I will be making it again.
I love it just as well without the frosting, too! Both are great. So happy everyone loved it.
Oh my goodness – these banana cake bars are so darn delicious! I’ve made banana bread many times over the years and while good, this is at an entirely different level! So, so good – and the frosting, to die for! Thank you Elena for another perfect recipe!
Yes! I make them often for party’s and people can’t get enough. I am so happy everyone loved them 🙂
This recipe is EXCELLENT! It’s hands down thee BEST recipe I have found not only for banana bars but the frosting as well. This was so well written step by step and just overall phenomenal recipe. Thank you so much this one is a keeper going in the books! My daughters absolutely love them.
Thank you so much! I am so happy you loved this recipe!! It is one to make time and time again.
These banana bars are one of the most amazing desserts I’ve ever had!! There are no words to fully describe how wonderful these are. Everyone who has tried them loved it and it is now a requested item!
The recipe as followed is really good! One time I changed it slightly by adding walnuts to the batter and maple syrup to the cream cheese frosting. Either way, amazing!
Wow, I love that recipe variation with the walnuts and maple syrup. I’ll have to try that. Yes, these are a huge hit everywhere I bring them as well! Happy you love.
So light and delicious!!!! Easy to make and great for a crowd.
YES! We love it for the same reasons!
These Banana Bars are amazing! Perfect amount of sweetness, they ar showing to be on the regular rotation! All your recipes have been keepers! Thanks for sharing your recipes and heart with us Elena.
You are most welcome! I am so happy you love them as much as we do. My kids prefer them to regular banana bread.