Banana Split Cake Bars

Name: Banana Split Cake Bars
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 24 servings.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large); 1 cup sour cream; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 2 jars (10 ounces each) unstemmed maraschino cherries, drained and chopped; 2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips; 1 package (10 ounces) miniature marshmallows; Optional: chopped salted peanuts, sliced ripe banana or dried banana chips

Summer isn’t summer without a banana split or two, and these fun bars bring that same delicious flavor into potluck-perfect bar form. —Jasey McBurnett, Rock Springs, Wyoming

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large)
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 jars (10 ounces each) unstemmed maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 package (10 ounces) miniature marshmallows
Optional: chopped salted peanuts, sliced ripe banana or dried banana chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 15x10x1-in. baking pan.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs; mix well. Beat in bananas, sour cream and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture. Transfer to prepared pan.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes. Top cake with cherries, chocolate chips, marshmallows and if desired, peanuts. Bake until chips are slightly melted and marshmallows puff, 3-5 minutes longer. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. If desired top with sliced ripe bananas or banana chips before serving.

Test Kitchen Tip

These bars are chock-full of amazing toppings making them a bit tricky to cut neatly. Plan to eat them with a fork to scoop up all the goodness that falls off.