Banana Bars Recipe
User Reviews
5
Banana Bars Recipe
Description
Banana Bars start with creaming softened butter and sugar, then mixing in mashed ripe bananas, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract to add moisture and flavor. Baking soda and salt provide leavening and balance. Flour is folded in to create the batter, which is poured into a greased 11x15-inch pan for even thickness. After baking at 350°F for 25-30 minutes and cooling, the bars are topped with a creamy blend of softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
The bars have a soft crumb and moist texture from banana and sour cream, with the frosting adding richness and a slight tang. This recipe yields a sheet good that can be cut into squares, suitable for casual gatherings or lunchboxes.
They can be decorated with freshly sliced bananas just before serving to prevent browning. Optional toppings include walnuts, caramel syrup, or chocolate chips for variety. Refrigerate frosted bars to keep the cream cheese topping fresh. Unfrosted bars can be stored at room temperature.
Making the bars ahead and adding frosting prior to serving helps maintain quality. Careful storage in airtight containers prolongs freshness up to five days refrigerated.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened, unsalted
- 1½ cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups banana about 3 bananas, mashed overripe
- 2 egg
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 cream cheese 8-ounce package, softened
- ½ cup butter softened, unsalted
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with a hand mixer for about 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking soda, and salt and beat until combined. Add mashed bananas, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla and mix to combine. Add flour and mix to combine.
- Pour into a greased 11-x-15-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes. Let cool in the pan.
- While the bars cool, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars and cut into squares.
Notes
- Store unfrosted banana bars at room temperature; refrigerate frosted bars for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
- Make bars in advance but apply cream cheese frosting shortly before serving for best texture.
- Fresh banana slices used for decoration should be added last minute to prevent browning.
- Variations include adding chopped walnuts, caramel, chocolate chips, or berries to the batter or as toppings.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 20Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 350 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 350kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 39g | 13% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Cholesterol | 71mg | 24% |
| Sodium | 295mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 94mg | 2% |
| Sugar | 28g | 56% |
| Vitamin A | 680IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 1.1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 33mg | 3% |
| Iron | 0.8mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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