Banana Bars

by Suzanne on March 1, 2015

in Sweet Things

Banana barsIf you asked me what my go-to recipe is for a sweet treat that everyone loves, it would be this recipe! I originally got this recipe from my sister-in-law but I decided it needed more banana flavor and a different kick to the frosting too, so I tweaked it a bit. I loved the changes I made and so does everyone else even my SIL :). My family that lives in California always asks me to make this when I visit them and so I usually do. My nephew loves these too and makes them himself now that he is on his own. I almost always have ripe bananas on hand and if I made these each time I had an abundance of overly ripe bananas I would be in big trouble since they are totally addicting. The recipe is basically a banana bread recipe made into a sheet cake and frosted with a cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Even if you aren’t a huge cinnamon fan you will like these frosted this way because it adds a little different taste that is subtle but tasty.

I recently tried making this recipe with coconut oil since it has some health benefits that is all the rave right now. They turned out just as good but they didn’t rise quite as high as when using butter so keep that in mind if you try them that way. The photos here are with me using the coconut oil, oh and one more thing, the coconut oil makes these extra moist too. I hope you love this recipe as much as our family does and that it becomes your favorite as well. Happy Baking!

Banana cars | you-made-that.com

Banana Bars

Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter or coconut oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
4 ripe bananas mashed
1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter softened
4 oz. cream cheese
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3 1/2 to 3/4 powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 T milk
1 cup chopped nuts

Directions:
Step 1: In large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar. Then add eggs, bananas, sour cream mix well.
Step 2: Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until incorporated well.
Step 3: Pour into a 15 X 10 inch. pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Step 4: Bake 350 degrees for 20-25 min. Cool in pan.

Making the Frosting:
While cake is cooling make the frosting.
Step 1: In large mixing bowl cream the butter and cream cheese together, add vanilla and cinnamon and beat.
Step 2: Add the powdered sugar and beat slow until most all is incorporated, then mix on high until frosting like consistency. If too dry, then can add 1 T. of milk until desired consistency.
Step 3: Frost bars and add chopped nuts on top if desired.

banana bar 3

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1 Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings March 2, 2015 at 9:53 pm

I love the option of being able to make this with coconut oil. Plus, with the sour cream / yogurt, I bet this is so soft and tender that it just melts in your mouth! Bookmarking this one…

2 Suzanne March 4, 2015 at 10:11 pm

These bars really are so soft and moist, you can’t go wrong with them, thanks Jen.

3 Choc Chip Uru March 3, 2015 at 9:19 pm

Delicious looking bars, they would be perfect for uni 😀

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

4 Suzanne March 4, 2015 at 10:10 pm

Thank you Uru, these are definitely one of my favorite recipes!

5 Lysha March 4, 2015 at 4:17 pm

These look so good. I’m going to pin this to my list of recipes to try soon. Thanks!!

6 Suzanne March 4, 2015 at 10:09 pm

Thanks, I hope you like them as much as we do!

7 Carol at Wild Goose Tea March 7, 2015 at 10:47 pm

I can see why they would be popular. Look how banana bread lives thru the years! These are moist for extra
sure and then you have THE frosting. Yes. Everything is better with GOOD frosting.

8 Suzanne March 8, 2015 at 5:57 pm

Thanks Carol!

9 Sophie March 15, 2015 at 3:25 am

Hey Suzanne! I made your lovely banana bars yesterday afternoon & loved making them too!
My hubby Peter & I served them to guests & they loved them too!
🙂 Divine is the word! xxx

I hope you are well! x

10 Suzanne March 17, 2015 at 2:02 pm

Your amazing Sophie, these bars are really a crowd pleaser and I’m happy that your friends all loved them too.

11 Nick Platt May 19, 2015 at 8:02 pm

Hey! That nephew is ME!!! I love these so much!!! I’m craving some right now!!!

12 Suzanne May 19, 2015 at 8:27 pm

Ha ha, you are so right it is you Nick!! Wish I could make them for ya because I would. xoxo

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