Go Back
–+ servings
Frosted Banana Bars

Frosted Banana Bars

Frosted Banana Bars are so easy to make, moist and delicious, and freeze easily for a great dessert to serve to unexpected company.
Servings: 24 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups bananas, about 3 medium, overripe and mashed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Dash salt

frosting:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in the eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until blended.
  • Transfer batter to a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in 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.
  • Cut the cake into bars or squares, you will get 24-30 servings depending on how big you cut them.
    Frosted Banana Bars

Equipment

  • 1 13x9-inch baking pan

Notes

Tips for making Banana Bars:
To ripen bananas quickly, just pop your bananas in a paper bag, fold over to close and check in a day. The enclosed environment traps ethylene, the compound responsible for ripening bananas. For even better results, add an apple to the bag (it also releases ethylene). Don’t want to wait a day? You can ripen bananas in minutes or hours using an oven or freezer.
What are some alternatives to cream cheese frosting?
It’s hard to go wrong with a creamy caramel frosting. Feeling a bit more adventurous? Why not go Elvis-inspired with a chocolate peanut butter frosting? Spread over the top, then sprinkle the banana bars with chopped peanuts or crumbled cooked bacon!

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 86mgPotassium: 69mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 403IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg