Banana Bars Recipe

5 from 13 votes

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.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: banana bars, banana bread, banana cake

Servings: servings

Author: Elena Davis

Equipment

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

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.

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