Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Name: Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 dozen.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 cup sour cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup); FROSTING:; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3-3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar

I make these moist bars whenever I have ripe bananas on hand, then store them in the freezer to share later at a potluck. With creamy frosting and big banana flavor, this treat is a real crowd-pleaser. —Debbie Knight, Marion, Iowa

Ingredients

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

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in bananas.
Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (do not overbake). Cool.
For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually beat in enough confectioners' sugar to achieve desired consistency. Frost bars. Store in the refrigerator.

Test Kitchen Tips

For the most intense flavor, use bananas with plenty of brown spots on them. Great way to use up leftovers in your fruit bowl!

Get crunchy by adding toasted walnuts or black walnuts to the batter, or sprinkling them over the frosting.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 148 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 96mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

Originally published as Frosted Banana Bars in Taste of Home June/July 2000

Reviews

My Review

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Average Rating:

kendallskabin

Feb 10, 2019

My “go-to” for any occasion. Wonderful as written and they are “cake like” . DONT change a thing. Perfect as written
Lucinda

Jan 20, 2019

Simply scrumptious!! I wanted to make these for church this morning so was worried about time but they went together quickly and I love that they also bake and cool quickly. I used 4 frozen medium bananas and it was just barely over 1 cup. Used the liquid too that comes with freezing bananas. I used a half sheet pan, I think 15-1/2 x 11-1/4, and it was the perfect size for bar thickness. Baked mine for 23 minutes, rotating pan with 8 minutes left. One rack lower than middle of oven. Nice medium brown on top. Put in the cold garage to cool quickly. I had about 1-1/2 cups of leftover cream cheese frosting I'd used for cookies. Very thick so added maybe a good half a cup of soured milk till the right consistency for a glaze. Spread over the mostly cooled bars, cut into 40 bars which yielded 2 inch sized bars. They were gobbled up at church and we still had some to bring home. My family loved them! These will be my go to banana recipe. I loathe making banana bread so these are banana goodies I will make often.
Michelle

Jan 1, 2019

Little confused on why it says that it makes 4 dozen. Should I only pour half the batter in, and then make again? Found this to be more cake-like than bar-like. I also put it in for 35 minutes because the middle was too pudding-like, though I was nervous about the browning edges (I live at high-altitude if that's relevant). Overall, an easy winner to take to work or a family gathering. I put salted caramel in the cream cheese frosting which was amazing. I will try enhancing it even more with another banana or some almonds next time.
ellimaye1

Nov 28, 2018

These are to die for! I took them to an event and barely came home with any left. Everyone raved about how wonderful they were and went back for seconds. I only used 1 cup of sugar in the batter and 3 cups of powdered sugar in the frosting--they were plenty sweet with all flavors standing out. This is going in the permanent recipe box!
ChrisD1717

Oct 6, 2018

These bars were amazing. I also made mine in a 9"x13" dish. Will try in sheet next time. Was more like a cake. Very dense and moist. Frosting put it over the top. Will make again.
Karen

Jun 26, 2018

Delicioso!! Awesome recipe.
jahw012

Jun 16, 2018

This is delicious. I made the cake portion in a 9 x13 and added 18 minutes to the bake time. I didn’t make the icing because the cake was so delicious. It’s like the BEST banana nut bread ever
Lisa

Apr 9, 2018

Fantastic, easy and delicious! No more banana bread, these bars are now my go to!
Debglass11

Apr 4, 2018

These are wonderful! Made exactly as written. The bars are easy to make and the sour cream makes them moist and delicious. And the cream cheese frosting sends them over the top. Great way to use up ripe bananas. This recipe is perfect for potlucks, or anytime you'e craving something sweet! Will definitely make these again!Volunteer Field Editor
jon.ruth.alumbaugh

Mar 28, 2018

I made these Frosted Banana Bars for the umpteenth time recently and it's ALWAYS a winner. Easy to make with ingredients on hand, quantity fit for a king, and flavor to beat the band. This TOH Volunteer Field Editor is ecstatic with this recipe and the outcome. This is a no fail, from scratch recipe. I'll be making this for as long as bananas roam the earth. You will love it, too. It's also great to freeze baked or even just the batter. I double my recipes often and save some for another time when I need something in a pinch.Bake this and be the star of your show. I think a chocolate icing would be marvelous on top, too, wouldn't you? My international friends who don't like sweet things would likely prefer a dusting of powdered sugar.Thanks, Michelle.