Description
Banana bars bring pure comfort straight from your kitchen, packed with ripe mashed bananas and a tender, moist crumb that makes snack time totally delightful. Drizzled with a creamy vanilla glaze, these bars turn an ordinary afternoon into a sweet, satisfying moment you’ll absolutely adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 to 3 ripe bananas
Supporting Ingredients:
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Grab a 9×13 inch baking pan and coat it with nonstick spray at 350°F. Line the pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mash 2-3 ripe bananas in a large bowl until completely smooth and creamy. You’ll want about 1 cup of mashed banana.
- Pour ½ cup melted butter into the mashed bananas and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon.
- Add 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until the mixture looks smooth and well-integrated.
- In a separate bowl, combine 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined – avoid overmixing your batter.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly across the surface.
- Slide the pan into the preheated 350°F oven and bake for 22-25 minutes. Your bars are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let the bars cool in the pan for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- For frosting, beat 8 oz cream cheese, ½ cup softened butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until silky smooth.
- Once bars are completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly across the top using an offset spatula.
- Slice into squares and serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Ripe bananas are key to maximum flavor, so wait until they’re dark and soft before baking.
- Use room temperature eggs to help them blend more smoothly into the batter.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with a reliable gluten-free blend that includes xanthan gum.
- Cream cheese frosting adds a tangy richness, but the bars taste delicious without it if you prefer a lighter dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 388 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 189 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 57 mg