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Makeover Frosted Banana Bars Recipe

Makeover Frosted Banana Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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“I've made these banana bars many times, always with favorable comments and requests for the recipe.” With this makeover, you don't have to be shy about grabbing seconds of this treat! Susan Stuff — Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

This recipe is:

Healthy

Diabetic Friendly

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Makeover Frosted Banana Bars Recipe

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Yield: 36 Servings

15 20 35

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Dash salt
FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the bananas, applesauce and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into butter mixture just until blended.
Transfer to a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost bars. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 3 dozen.

Nutritional Facts 1 bar equals 149 calories, 4 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 23 mg cholesterol, 89 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.

Originally published as Makeover Frosted Banana Bars in Healthy Cooking February/March 2009, p22

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Reviews for Makeover Frosted Banana Bars

Makeover Frosted Banana Bars

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(1-10) of 25 reviews

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Reviewed on May. 14, 2013 by GRANNA3MJL

I USED 1/2 SPENDA & 1/2 SUGAR & MIXED IT WITH A FORK FIRST. FOR THE ICING I CUT BACK THE BUTTER TO 1TBS, THE SUGAR TO 1/4C & ADDED 1/3C OF SPLENDA. I ALSO ADDED 1TSP OF LEMON JUICE. TURNED OUT GREAT!

Reviewed on Apr. 03, 2013 by KikiVon

All the sugar in the icing overpowers the taste of the cream cheese and banana bars. Next time maybe I'll make this with less confectioner's sugar.

Reviewed on Nov. 02, 2012 by PatKess

These were very moist and tasty. Several people asked for the recipe after trying them.

Reviewed on Oct. 19, 2012 by Conknee7

I also used 1 cup of sugar instead of 1 1/2. YUM!

Reviewed on Oct. 19, 2012 by Conknee7

I love these! I even used light butter and they taste wonderful!

Next time I will add chopped walnuts and sprinkle the forsting with walnuts as well.

Reviewed on Oct. 18, 2012 by Clifton66

This is great!! I used splenda, added cinnamon, walnuts and fat free cream cheese. Really yummy!!!

Reviewed on Oct. 13, 2012 by sueEMM

Very moist. Everyone loved them! No one guessed that they were "diet" friendly. Will make again!

Reviewed on Oct. 11, 2012 by gjElr5mo

Of course, this recipe is good. But, there is no amount of sugar listed in the Nutrition Facts. I don't know how this can be healthy and diabetic friendly with so much sugar in the bars and the fat free frosting. Way too much sugar!!!!!

Reviewed on Oct. 11, 2012 by chefology

Although I have not made this I'm looking forward. It takes less sugar and butter than my old one. Jham there is a lot of reduction in this

Reviewed on Oct. 11, 2012 by MFerrill

So yummy I will be making this again!

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