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White plate with serving of banana bar with cream cheese frosting on top with rest of banana bars in background in metal baking pan.
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Banana Bars

If you have too many bananas and want a quick and simple dessert, banana bars are the perfect treat to bake. Unlike banana bread, the bar form has a delicious cream cheese frosting that makes each bite sweet with a banana-forward undertone. Plus, this recipe adds chocolate chips, which is the perfect addition for a pop of decadence. You’ll love them!
Course Bars
Cuisine American
Difficulty Intermediate
Method Baking
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 15 servings
Calories 471kcal
Author Kaleb

Ingredients

For the bars

  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ¾ cup white granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup mashed banana
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

For the bars

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 10x15" (also known as a jelly roll pan) sheet pan and set it aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, white granulated sugar, and butter. Using a stand mixer, hand mixer, or whisk, cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy, 3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and mashed banana. Beat the mixture until it is combined. The mixture may look curdled.
    ½ cup light brown sugar, ¾ cup white granulated sugar, ¾ cup unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1 cup mashed banana, 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until the dry ingredients are just combined, but do not over-mix. Fold the chocolate chips into the batter.
    2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp kosher salt, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • Pour the batter into the prepared sheet pan and place in the preheated oven. Bake until the bars are golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean, 30-40 minutes. Let cool completely before icing.
  • Once the bars are cooled, spread on the icing, covering the bars completely. Slice and serve.

For the frosting

  • Beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract, salt, and sifted powdered sugar. Slowly mix in the sugar until it is smooth. Add more sugar to thicken or milk to thin the frosting.
    8 oz cream cheese, ½ cup unsalted butter, ¼ tsp kosher salt, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 471kcal