Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Banana bars with cream cheese frosting are a comforting treat that the whole family will love. Topped with a layer of creamy frosting, these bars taste amazing and look beautiful! They're perfect for those overripe bananas on your counter, and is an alternative recipe to your typical banana bread.
Servings: 12 servings
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 10x15-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
Serving: 1bar | Calories: 609kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 319mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 70g | Vitamin A: 904IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg
