We've all been there. You let your bananas get a little too ripe, and now it's time to figure out what to do with them. Our favorite way to use them is in Banana Bars! With a tender, cake-like base and mouthwatering cream cheese frosting, our Banana Bars recipe is a must-make. You didn't hear it from us, but Banana Bars with cream cheese frosting will fly off the plate, so make sure to save yourself a few before serving them.
Pantry staples like flour, eggs, and cinnamon help create an easy dessert that’s simple to make and easy to share.
Granulated Sugar: It helps tenderize the crumb of your banana bars, contributes to that lovely golden-brown crust, and keeps them moist.
Mashed Very Ripe Bananas: Ripe bananas bring natural sweetness, incredible moisture, and that signature fruity flavor. The riper they are, the more flavor and moisture they'll impart!
Vegetable Oil: This liquid fat contributes to the bars' moistness and tenderness.
Large Eggs: They provide structure, richness, and help bind all the ingredients together.
Gold Medal™ All Purpose Flour: Flour provides the structure for your banana bars.
Ground Cinnamon: This warm, aromatic spice adds a comforting depth of flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the bananas.
Salt: Don't skip the salt! A small amount of salt is essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors in the bars.
Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese provides a tangy, rich, and incredibly smooth base for your frosting. Its slight acidity cuts through the sweetness, creating a perfectly balanced flavor.
Butter: Butter adds richness, flavor, and a silky-smooth texture to the frosting.
Vanilla: A touch of vanilla extract is a flavor enhancer that adds warmth and depth to the frosting.
Powdered Sugar: This finely milled sugar dissolves easily, creating a smooth, lump-free texture, and helps thicken the frosting to a perfect spreadable consistency.
Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Baking powder, baking soda, butter.
These banana bars come together with simple ingredients and a few easy steps. These tips will help give the bars a soft texture and smooth frosting every time. See the full recipe below for all the recipe details.
Use very ripe bananas for this recipe. Ripe bananas mash more easily and give the bars stronger banana flavor. Bananas with brown spots work best for this recipe. Mix just until the dry ingredients are combined. Overmixing can make the bars dense instead of soft and tender.
Let the bars cool fully before adding the frosting. Warm bars can cause the frosting to melt and slide.
Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the frosting into an even layer so every bar gets a little frosting in each bite.
Banana bars stay soft and moist when stored properly.
Cover tightly or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For the best texture, let refrigerated bars sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
Banana Bars can be stored frosted or unfrosted in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving or frosting.
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 13x9-inch pan with shortening.
In a large bowl, mix granulated sugar, bananas, oil, and eggs with a spoon. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Spread batter in the pan.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Gradually beat in powdered sugar with a spoon, scraping bowl occasionally, until smooth and spreadable.
Spread frosting over cooled bars.
For 24 bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
Lightly dust the top of frosted Banana Bars with cinnamon, if desired.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 7g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 0% |
| Trans Fat | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 30mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 105mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 25g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Soluble Fiber | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Potassium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 2% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 0% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
