Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting: The Best Way to Use Those Overripe Bananas (Better Than Banana Bread!)
Ultra-moist sheet pan banana bars made with overripe bananas and sour cream, topped with the most incredible tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for potlucks, parties, or any time you need to feed a crowd something absolutely delicious.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes (plus cooling time)
- Yield: 24 bars
- Category: Dessert, Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Banana Bars:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 very ripe bananas, mashed (1 3/4 cups)
- 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1-2 tbsp milk or cream (if needed)
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, oil, vanilla, mashed bananas, and sour cream until combined.
- Combine: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently until just combined. Don’t overmix. Fold in nuts if using.
- Bake: Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake 25-30 minutes until toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool: Let cool completely in pan on wire rack, about 1-2 hours (or refrigerate 30-45 minutes).
- Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add vanilla and salt. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating after each addition. Beat on high 2-3 minutes until smooth. Add milk if needed for consistency.
- Frost: Spread frosting evenly over completely cooled bars. Garnish if desired.
- Cut and Serve: Cut into 24 bars and enjoy! Refrigerate leftovers.
Notes
- Use very ripe (brown and spotty) bananas for best flavor
- Room temperature ingredients blend better
- Don’t overmix the batter or bars will be tough
- Bars must be completely cool before frosting
- These taste even better the next day!
- Can be made gluten-free with 1:1 GF flour blend
- Freezes well unfrosted for up to 3 months
Find it online: https://recipya.com/easy-banana-bars-with-cream-cheese-frosting/