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Best Banana Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting—There’s something incredibly comforting about a freshly baked treat made with love at home, and these banana bars deliver just that. Topped with a layer of creamy frosting, these bars taste amazing and look beautiful, too! They’re perfect for that overripe banana on your counter and a perfect alternative recipe to your typical banana bread.
You’ll also love our peanut butter bars, zucchini bread, and lemon loaf.
Best Easy Banana Bars
I love to bake a homemade treat when my kids come home from school. These frosted banana bars are an easy dessert that turns out perfect every single time! I know they will be a hit in your home as well. This is my favorite way to use ripe bananas.
- Incredible Flavor: The combination of ripe bananas, brown sugar, and vanilla extract creates a rich and delightful flavor profile that’s both comforting and indulgent.
- Moist and Tender Texture: Adding mashed bananas ensures tender and moist banana bars, while the cream cheese frosting adds a creamy and luxurious texture that melts in your mouth.
- Versatile: These incredibly versatile banana bars can be enjoyed as a dessert, snack, or breakfast. They’re great for serving at parties, potlucks, or as a sweet treat for your family.
- Crowd Pleaser: With their irresistible flavor and decadent frosting, these bars will surely be a hit with everyone who tries them. They’re a great dessert to bring to any gathering.
- Make-ahead Option: These bars can be made and stored in the refrigerator, making them convenient for busy schedules or special occasions.
- Perfect Balance of Sweetness: The cream cheese frosting adds just the right amount of sweetness to complement the bananas’ natural sweetness without being overly sweet.
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!
For the Banana Bars:
- Unsalted Butter: Provides richness and moisture to the bars.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the bars and contributes to their texture.
- Brown sugar: Adds depth of flavor and moistness to the bars.
- Eggs: Act as a binding agent and provide structure to the bars.
- Sour Cream: Adds an incredibly moist texture to the bars.
- Ripe bananas: Infuses natural sweetness and banana flavor, also contributes moisture and texture.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor profile of the bars with its aromatic notes.
- All-purpose flour: Serves as the base dry ingredient, providing structure and texture.
- Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the bars rise and become fluffy.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Unsalted butter: Provides richness and smoothness to the frosting.
- Cream cheese: Adds tanginess and creaminess to the frosting.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor of the frosting with its aromatic notes.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor profile of the frosting.
- Confectioner’s sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting, creating a smooth and spreadable consistency.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Banana Bread Bars
Easy to Make: 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.
Banana Bars Recipe Instructions
Cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
Add the eggs to the mixing bowl, one at a time while beating after each addition.
Add and 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.
Spread the banana batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown.
Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions and Assembly
Beat the softened butter and cream cheese.
Gradually add and beat 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.
Substitutions
Sour Cream in the Frosting: Add 1/4 cup of sour cream to the cream cheese frosting mixture. Mix the sour cream into the frosting until smooth and well combined.
The addition of sour cream adds a subtle tanginess and extra moisture to the bars, enhancing their flavor and texture.
Variations for Frosted Banana Bars
Here are a few variations and twists you can try for your Cream Cheese Banana Bars the next time you make them:
- Banana Nutella Bars: Swirl Nutella on top of the cream cheese frosting for a decadent chocolate hazelnut flavor.
- Peanut Butter Banana Bars: Swirl peanut butter on top of the cream cheese frosting for a delightful peanut butter and banana combination.
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bars: Fold in a cup of chocolate chips into the banana bar batter before baking for a delicious chocolatey twist.
- Nutty Banana Bars: Add chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the banana bar batter for added texture and flavor.
- Spiced Banana Bars: Mix in a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice into the banana bar batter for a warm and cozy flavor.
Equipment
- Best Sheet Pan (jelly roll pan)
- Electric Mixer
- Large Bowl
Storage
- 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.
Top tips
- Use Ripe Bananas: 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.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your eggs and butter are at room temperature before starting. Room-temperature ingredients mix more quickly and evenly, resulting in a smoother batter.
- Properly Measure Flour: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife for accurate measurements. This helps prevent your bars from becoming too dense.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter until just combined. Overmixing can result in tough banana bars. Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Evenly Spread Batter: Spread the batter evenly in the baking pan for uniform baking. Use a spatula to smooth out the top.
- Test for Doneness: 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.
- Cool Completely: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting and sliding off.
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.
My Recipes
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What to Serve with Banana Bread Bars
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Best Banana Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Best Banana Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting—There’s something incredibly comforting about a freshly baked treat made with love at home, and these banana bars deliver just that. Topped with a layer of creamy frosting, these bars taste amazing and look beautiful! They’re perfect for that overripe banana on your counter and an alternative recipe to your typical banana bread.
Ingredients
For the Banana Bars:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 1/2 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
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened (1 block-style package)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt (about 1/4 teaspoon)
- 4 cups confectioner’s sugar (adjust to taste)
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (great flavor if you want to mix it up!)
Equipment:
Best Sheet Pan (jelly roll pan)
Instructions
Make the Banana Bars:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan and set it aside.
- Prepare the Banana Bars: 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.
- Bake the Banana Bars: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. You may tab 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.
Make 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.
Frost 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. - Serve and Enjoy: Cut the frosted banana bars into squares or rectangles. Serve and enjoy these delicious banana bars with cream cheese frosting!
- Storage: Any leftover banana bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Notes
Tips
Use Ripe Bananas: 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.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure that your eggs and butter are at room temperature before starting. Room-temperature ingredients mix more easily and evenly, resulting in a smoother batter.
Properly Measure Flour: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife for accurate measurements. This helps prevent your bars from becoming too dense.
Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter until just combined. Overmixing can result in tough banana bars. Stop mixing as soon as the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Evenly Spread Batter: Spread the batter evenly in the baking pan for uniform baking. Use a spatula to smooth out the top.
Test for Doneness: Insert a toothpick into the center of the bars; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached. Avoid overbaking, as this can lead to dry bars.
Cool Completely: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting and sliding off.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sweet
- Method: American
- Cuisine: American
I am Italian and a bit serious about my cooking and baking. I have been following Elena and I must say, you certainly walk the talk…your recipes are true to form; delicious. I won’t say I don’t tweak things now and then, but what cook does not to please themselves or their families. Wonderful job Elena. Thank you
Thank you so much! I am happy you love the recipes! Yes, every cook has to make a recipe a little bit “their own”. Here’s to many more recipes. Grazie, Elena.
I made this for a Sunday family dinner dessert and everyone loved it! The bars were so moist and So yummy! I added a little cinnamon to the frosting and would definitely recommend it! Everyone’s been asking me when I’m going to make them again!
These bars a crowd-pleaser every time! I love the addition of cinnamon in the frosting.
Best banana cream bar recipe! Moist and you can adjust the frosting to your liking. I will be making this again for sure!! For keeps!!!
Yay! So happy you loved them!
I made these for my grandkids for their first day of school afternoon snack. They really liked them! The only thing I could suggest is that you may not need all the frosting. It was pretty thick. They really are yummy and moist!
Yes! We have a similar tradition. I love that you made for the grandkids!
We made these bars for a big dinner we were having for a going away party and they were a HUGE hit! Adults and kids alike couldn’t get enough! Should have made two sheets haha
Yes, I always think we will have leftovers and there is never a square left! I am happy everyone loved them!
Kids favorite afternoon treat!
I can’t wait to try these! I love bananas and so do my grandkids
Let me know how you and the grandkids love them!