Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Slice the frosted banana bars and chill them in the fridge until the frosting sets. Then, store them in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between layers to keep them fresh.
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Servings: 24
Ingredients
Banana Bars
- 1 cup 240 g sour cream, at room temperature
- 1¾ cups 350 g granulated sugar
- ½ cup 113 g unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1¼ cups mashed bananas approximately 2 medium bananas
- 2 teaspoons 10 ml vanilla extract
- 2 cups 240 g all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting for Banana Bars
- 8 oz. 226 g cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup 113 g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3½ cups 420 g powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons 10 ml vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon 15 ml milk, as needed
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and lightly grease your chosen baking pan, whether it’s a 15x10-inch pan or a 9x13-inch one.
- In a medium-sized bowl, melt the butter and allow it to cool slightly until it feels warm but not hot to the touch.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until fully incorporated.
- In another bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth with a few small lumps remaining. Add the cooled melted butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, ensuring no pockets of flour remain. Stir until the batter is evenly mixed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and use a spatula to spread it evenly across the surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until the cake gently springs back when touched and the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before proceeding to the frosting.
- To prepare the cream cheese frosting, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract, salt, powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of milk. Mix until the frosting is creamy and smooth, adding additional milk if necessary to achieve your desired consistency.
- Spread the frosting generously over the cooled banana bars. If the frosting becomes too soft, refrigerate the frosted bars for 20-30 minutes to firm up before slicing. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Spread the frosting generously over the cooled banana bars. If the frosting becomes too soft, refrigerate the frosted bars for 20-30 minutes to firm up before slicing. Serve and enjoy!
To store frosted banana bars, start by slicing the sheet cake into your preferred portion sizes. Place the pieces in a single layer in the fridge to chill until the cream cheese frosting firms up. Once set, transfer the bars to an airtight container for longer storage, separating each layer with wax or parchment paper to prevent sticking. Keep refrigerated for optimal freshness.
To store frosted banana bars, start by slicing the sheet cake into your preferred portion sizes. Place the pieces in a single layer in the fridge to chill until the cream cheese frosting firms up. Once set, transfer the bars to an airtight container for longer storage, separating each layer with wax or parchment paper to prevent sticking. Keep refrigerated for optimal freshness.