Description
Banana bars with cream cheese frosting bring pure comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your plate. Packed with ripe bananas and topped with smooth cream cheese, this simple treat delivers pure happiness in every sweet, tender bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 2 medium ripe bananas
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese
Secondary Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel 2 medium ripe bananas and mash them thoroughly with a fork until smooth. Your banana mixture should measure exactly 1 cup.
- Cream ½ cup softened unsalted butter and 1 cup granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl for 2-3 minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Add 2 large eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, then blend in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until completely incorporated.
- Whisk 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in a separate bowl.
- Gently fold half the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, then stir in 1 cup mashed bananas and ½ cup sour cream.
- Add remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Your batter should look thick but spreadable.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Spread batter evenly across the pan’s surface.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°F until the top turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow bars to cool completely in the pan for approximately 1 hour.
- Beat 4 ounces cream cheese and ¼ cup softened butter until smooth. Incorporate 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 ½ cups powdered sugar.
- Once bars are fully cooled, spread frosting evenly across the surface using an offset spatula.
- Cut into 16-20 rectangular pieces using a sharp knife for clean edges.
Notes
- Always use overripe bananas for maximum sweetness and deeper banana flavor.
- Let the baked bars cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and sliding.
- For gluten-free bars, swap wheat flour with almond or coconut flour and add an extra egg for binding.
- Store frosted bars in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving for best texture and taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 264 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 153 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg