Makeover Frosted Banana Bars Recipe

Makeover Frosted Banana Bars Recipe Makeover Frosted Banana Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Rating 5

“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 Recipe

Makeover Frosted Banana Bars

Tell us what you think of this recipe.
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(0-25) of 25 reviews

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!

Reviewed on Oct. 11, 2012 by jham

Exactly what is made over. Butter, tons of sugar, in other words delicious, but not something you can eat a lot of.

Reviewed on Oct. 11, 2012 by imjcklein

These are great!! If you leave them unfrosted, the carb count goes to 16. This is great for diabetics and they taste just as good!!

Reviewed on Oct. 08, 2012 by kedunham

Very moist and delicious!

Reviewed on Jun. 05, 2012 by judywart

These are wonderful. I add chopped pecans to the batter and they are even better.

Reviewed on Jan. 16, 2012 by Mel_G.

Delicious! I loved them and couldn't tell by the taste that they were a "lighter" version. Very moist. I didn't have a 15x10 baking pan, so I used a 9x13, and it worked just fine. Would definitely make again!

Reviewed on Sep. 15, 2011 by Sillyman1

I have made this recipe a couple of times now. It always is a big hit in my family. I do add some cinnamon to the batter per my personal preference, but it good either way.

Reviewed on Apr. 20, 2011 by Ladycook

Great recipe. Easy to make and great tasting bars. To Pennsylvania Patty: The smaller pan can be used, it will just yield a thicker bar. It may or may not affect the cooking time. If it does, it will be by just a little. I hope that helps. Marina

Reviewed on Apr. 12, 2011 by my5csmom

Whenever I have over ripe bananas, my family will ask for these, they used to ask for my famous Banana Bread but not anymore.

Reviewed on Aug. 01, 2010 by danielleylee

I used a 16 in. X 11 in x 1 in baking pan. These bars turned out great for the family reunion! I used some fat free cream cheese in the frosting because i did not have a full 8 ounces of the 1/3 fat cream cheese. And adding some nutmeg. I definitely will be making these bars again!

Reviewed on Jun. 25, 2010 by Pennsylvania Pattie

What would you do if you don't have a 10x15 baking pan? I only have a 13x9, and would like to make this for a church function.

Reviewed on Jan. 31, 2010 by muttluvr76

Excellent! We enjoyed these very much--very tasty, moist and tender with a great flavor--you'd never know they were "makeovers"!

Reviewed on Jan. 18, 2010 by jlee6300

I have made these many times since I discovered this recipe and I have always gotten rave reviews.

Reviewed on Jan. 06, 2010 by kandabear

I just made these and they are delicious!! I wil deffeintly make these again!

Reviewed on Jan. 05, 2010 by bartim718

I made these last night for a family dinner! Got RAVE reviews! So I brought the rest to work today!! Yummmmy!!!

Reviewed on Jul. 16, 2009 by jcanter

I've made these several times and they are very good. I don't always put the frosting on them and they still taste great. They taste like a banana bread bar! yummy!

 
 
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