Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Sharing is caring!

Moist banana bars are studded with walnuts or pecans and topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting for a dessert that’s certain to please.

I like bananas however I can by no means appear to make use of them up earlier than they’re manner too speckled to eat with my morning Cheerios. 

Fortunately, that nearly all the time offers me an excuse to bake up one thing scrumptious with them!

From strawberry banana muffins to banana cupcakes to banana espresso cake, I’ve acquired you coated if you happen to additionally all the time battle with a unending provide of overly ripe bananas.

And at present we’re including these banana bars with cream cheese frosting to that checklist!

Excellent Banana Bars with Tangy Cream Cheese Frosting

That is such a bizarre time of yr. We’re performed with the vacations and all the traditional substances that include them like cranberries and peppermint, however spring produce hasn’t popped up but both.

That is the time of yr after I lean actually closely into citrus recipes and substances like bananas. You recognize – stuff I can get any time of yr, however assist me bridge the hole between winter and spring. 

These banana bars with cream cheese frosting are one of many recipes I flip to this time of yr.

These bars are moist with simply the correct amount of sweetness. They’re studded with nuts – I sometimes use walnuts, however pecans are wonderful right here, too – and completed with a tangy, luscious cream cheese frosting. 

Plus, they’re an ideal dessert for feeding a crowd or sharing with associates and neighbors as a result of you’ll be able to minimize them into any dimension items you need. 

In case you’re a fan of banana nut bread, you’ll adore these banana bars!  

Tips on how to Make Banana Bars

These banana bars are straightforward to make, in order that they’re an excellent choice whenever you want a last-minute dessert for a celebration or gathering.

Components you’ll want

In case you’ve acquired ripe bananas readily available however not sufficient to make Dominique Ansel’s banana bread, this can be a nice choice since you solely want 2 bananas. 

For the bars, you will have:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed mild brown sugar
• 2 massive eggs at room temperature
• 1 cup bitter cream
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed bananas (from about 2 medium bananas)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

The bars get completed with a wealthy cream cheese frosting. For the frosting, you will have:

• 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
• 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

I sometimes unfold the cream cheese frosting over the banana bars, however you’ll be able to select to pipe it on for a reasonably look if you’d like. In case you go that route, chances are you’ll wish to double the frosting since piping makes use of greater than spreading it on will.

Useful sources

Making this recipe

With a view to get the proper thickness to those banana bars, we are going to use a jelly roll pan, which measures about 15x10x1 inches. Line the pan with parchment paper and spray it with nonstick spray to prep it.

To make the batter for the banana bars, cream collectively the butter and sugars in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with an electrical hand mixer. It will take about 3 minutes to do.

Add the eggs one after the other, then combine within the bitter cream and vanilla till nicely mixed.

In a separate bowl, sift collectively the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry substances to the butter combination and blend simply till mixed. Stir within the mashed bananas and the chopped nuts till absolutely included.

Unfold the batter evenly into the ready jelly roll pan and bake for 25-Half-hour, or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear. Let the bars cool utterly earlier than topping with the frosting.

Whereas the bars cool, make the cream cheese frosting.

Utilizing a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or an electrical hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and the butter on medium-high pace for about 3 minutes, then add the vanilla.

Flip the mixer to low and regularly add the powdered sugar. As soon as that’s absolutely included, flip the mixer again to medium-high pace and beat till the frosting is fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. 

Unfold the frosting onto the cooled banana bars, slice, and luxuriate in!

Storage Suggestions

Retailer the banana bars in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. 

You can too freeze the bars. Place the sliced bars onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place your complete baking sheet within the freezer.

After 1-2 hours, or when the bars and frosting are agency, wrap them in plastic wrap and retailer them in a zip-top freezer bag for as much as a month.

Let the banana bars thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than having fun with.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these banana bars in a 9×13-inch pan?

I do know not everybody has a jelly roll pan, though it’s helpful to have readily available for making pumpkin rolls or chocolate chip cookie bars. 

However if you wish to make these banana bars and don’t have a jelly roll pan, you can also make them in a 9×13-inch pan as a substitute. Remember the fact that they are going to be thicker – extra like my moist banana cake – and might want to bake longer.

I don’t like cream cheese frosting. What else can I take advantage of as a substitute?

There are nonetheless loads of methods you’ll be able to take pleasure in these banana bars even with out the cream cheese frosting! My brown butter frosting can be scrumptious on these, as would traditional do-it-yourself buttercream frosting.

Can I take advantage of yogurt as a substitute of bitter cream within the bars?

In case you don’t like baking with bitter cream otherwise you don’t have any readily available, yogurt will work simply high quality on this recipe. I sometimes wish to bake with full-fat greek yogurt.

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan (jelly roll pan) with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

• Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a big bowl with an electrical mixer, cream collectively the butter and sugars till mild and fluffy; about 3 minutes. Add eggs one after the other to the creamed combination. Combine in bitter cream and vanilla till absolutely included into the batter.

• In a medium bowl, sift collectively the flour, baking soda and salt. Steadily add the dry substances to the butter and sugar combination and blend till mixed. Stir in bananas and walnuts or pecans till they’re absolutely included into the batter.

• Evenly unfold batter into ready pan. Bake in preheated over for 25-Half-hour or till a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bars comes out clear. Take away pan to a wire rack to chill utterly.

• Whereas the bars are cooling, put together the cream cheese frosting. Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a big bowl with an electrical mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium-high pace for about 3 minutes. Combine within the vanilla. With the mixer on low, regularly add within the confectioners’ sugar and blend till absolutely mixed. Flip mixer as much as medium-high pace and beat till tremendous fluffy; about 3-4 minutes. Use an offset spatula to frost the bars or pipe the frosting onto the bars (see word under).

In case you select to pipe the frosting, chances are you’ll have to double the frosting recipe as this system makes use of extra frosting than merely spreading it onto the bars.
Refrigerate bars in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.

Serving: 1bar | Energy: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 4g | Fats: 17g | Saturated Fats: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 175mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 469IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

The default measuring system on My Baking Dependancy is US Customary. Unit conversions are supplied as a courtesy; please bear in mind that there could also be some discrepancies.

Card might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. As an Amazon Affiliate and member of different affiliate packages, I earn from qualifying purchases.