Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Updated Apr 23, 2025, Published Aug 07, 2024
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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 are not only delicious but also visually stunning. They’re perfect for that overripe banana on your counter and make a great alternative to your typical banana bread.
Why This Recipe Stands Out
I love to bake a homemade treat when my kids come home from school. These frosted banana bars are an easy dessert that always turn out perfectly every time! I know they will be a hit in your home as well. This is my favorite way to use ripe bananas.
“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.”
– Kari
You will also love our cranberry orange bread and banana flambe!
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.(You can ripen bananas faster by placing them inside a brown bag for a day or two!)
- 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.
Variations and Substitutions
Here are a few variations and twists you can try for your Cream Cheese Banana Bars the next time you make them:
- Nutella Swirl – Swirl Nutella over the frosting for rich chocolate-hazelnut flavor.
- Peanut Butter Swirl – Add a swirl of peanut butter for that classic banana + PB combo.
- Chocolate Chip – Fold in chocolate chips for a gooey, chocolatey bite.
- Nutty – Mix in chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for crunch and depth.
- Spiced – Add cinnamon or pumpkin spice to the batter for a cozy touch.
- Butter → melted coconut oil or neutral vegetable oil
- Eggs → 1 egg = 1 flax egg (1 tbsp flax + 3 tbsp water) or ¼ cup mashed banana
- Cream cheese frosting → Greek yogurt + honey or a vanilla glaze
- All-purpose flour → whole wheat flour or a 1:1 gluten-free blend
- Brown sugar → coconut sugar or maple syrup (reduce liquid slightly if using syrup)
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 (wet ingredients)
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.
FAQ’s
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 Pro Tip
Recipe 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.
How To Store
- 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.
More Dessert Recipes
You’ll also want to try our peanut butter bars, frozen lemon bars, and chocolate torte.
What to Serve with this Recipe
💙 MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? 💙 Please leave a ⭐️STAR rating and COMMENT below- I love connecting with you! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Pinterest.
Banana Bars Recipe
Equipment
- Best sheet pan jelly roll pan
Ingredients
For the Banana Bars:
- ½ cup butter, softened, 1 stick
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ 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, 1 stick
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (1 block-style package)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch 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!
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.