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