These banana bread bars are soft and moist, topped with rich cream cheese frosting. They’re an easy dessert to make and a great way to use up ripe bananas.
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Why You’ll Love These Banana Bars
Bananas are easily the most popular fruit in our house. My husband and both of my girls love them, so we almost always have some sitting in the fruit bowl. I’m a little picky, though. I prefer my bananas on the green side, so once they start getting really ripe, I want no part of them!
If you ever find yourself staring at a bunch of overly ripe bananas and wondering what to do with them, this recipe is a great solution. These soft, cake-like bars are simple to make and have that cozy banana flavor everyone loves. The cream cheese frosting adds just the right amount of sweetness without making them overly heavy. Here’s why they work so well:
- Soft, moist texture
- Simple pantry ingredients
- Easy to slice and share
- Cream cheese frosting finish
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- Ripe bananas- The key flavor in the bars. The browner they are, the stronger the banana taste.
- All-purpose flour- Forms the base of the bars. A 1:1 gluten-free baking blend can work if needed.
- Granulated sugar- Sweetens the batter and helps create a tender crumb.
- Eggs- Help bind the ingredients together and add structure.
- Vegetable oil- Keeps the bars moist. Melted butter or canola oil can also work.
- Cream cheese- Gives the frosting a smooth, tangy base. Full-fat works best for texture.
- Butter- Helps create a creamy frosting.
- Vanilla extract- Adds warmth and depth to the flavor.
- Confectioner’s sugar- Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Baking powder- Helps give the bars lift and structure.
- Baking soda- Works with the bananas to create a light texture.
- Ground cinnamon- Adds a warm, subtle spice flavor. You can omit it if you prefer.
- Kosher salt- Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
How To Make This Banana Bars Recipe
Step 1- Prep ingredients.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch pan with cooking spray, then line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until evenly mixed. Set aside.
Place the bananas in another bowl and mash until they’re mostly smooth.
Step 2- Mix the batter.
Mix the sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla and the bananas, stirring until fully combined.
Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly incorporate the dry ingredients. Once everything is just combined, transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a spatula.
Step 6- Bake and cool.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely before adding the frosting.
Step 7- Make the frosting base.
While the bars cool, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth.
Step 8- Finish the frosting and assemble.
Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar and mix until the frosting is creamy. Spread it over the cooled bars, cut into 12 pieces, and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. The riper the bananas, the stronger the banana flavor and the easier they are to mash. But slightly ripe bananas still work.
You can. The bars are still soft and flavorful on their own. If you skip the frosting, a light dusting of powdered sugar is a nice, simple option.
Yes. You can bake the bars a day in advance and frost them once they’ve cooled completely.
Tips For Making Banana Bars With Cream Cheese Icing
- Line the pan with parchment. Let a little hang over the sides so you can lift the bars out easily for slicing.
- Mix the dry ingredients first. Having them ready makes it easier to add them to the batter all at once.
- Use a mixer for the bananas. It breaks them down quickly, and you'll need the mixer for the rest of the batter anyway.
- Use softened cream cheese. This helps the frosting mix smoothly without lumps.
- Cool completely before frosting. If the bars are still warm, the frosting can melt.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Let the cream cheese and butter sit at room temperature before making the frosting for easier mixing.
- Leftovers and storage- Store covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Banana Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting
These bars are wonderful on their own, but they also pair nicely with a few simple treats if you’re building out a dessert spread or brunch table. Here are a few ideas to serve alongside them:
- Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
- Orange Cranberry Cake
- Rolo Pretzel Bites
- Chocolate Mousse Cups
Other Banana Recipes To Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
Banana Bread Bars
Ingredients
Banana Bars
- Cooking spray
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup ripe bananas, peeled (around 2 medium bananas)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese frosting softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioner's sugar
Instructions
Banana Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9" x 13" pan with cooking spray and line with parchment, allowing some extra parchment to stick up over the sides. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whip together the bananas to break them down.
- Add sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla and mix until well combined.
- With the mixer on low, gradually blend in the dry ingredients until just combined and pour into the prepared pan. Use a spatula to smooth the batter into an even layer.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and cool completely.
Cream cheese frosting
- While the bars cool, mix cream cheese, vanilla and butter until well combined.
- Gradually mix in the confectioner's sugar until everything is smooth. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars, cut into 12 pieces and serve.
Video
Notes
- Line the pan with parchment. Let a little hang over the sides so you can lift the bars out easily for slicing.
- Mix the dry ingredients first. Having them ready makes it easier to add them to the batter all at once.
- Use a mixer for the bananas. It breaks them down quickly, and you'll need the mixer for the rest of the batter anyway.
- Use softened cream cheese. This helps the frosting mix smoothly without lumps.
- Cool completely before frosting. If the bars are still warm, the frosting can melt.
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Let the cream cheese and butter sit at room temperature before making the frosting for easier mixing.
- Leftovers and storage- Store covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
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Jessy Freimann says