Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

a banana bar with cream cheese frosting on a white plate.

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Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Soft, moist banana bars with cream cheese frosting are the sweetest way to use up ripe bananas. Brown sugar and cinnamon add cozy flavor, and the maple cream cheese frosting makes them unforgettable.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 461kcal

Author: Cara Lanz

Ingredients

Banana Sour Cream Bars

½ cup oil
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup mashed banana
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, softened
2 ½ cups powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup pure maple syrup

Instructions

Banana Sour Cream Bars

Preheat the oven to 350 and spray a 9 x 13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix the oil, sugars, eggs, banana, sour cream, and vanilla until well combined.
Add the flour, then sprinkle the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt evenly over the flour. Mix until just combined, do not overmix.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan and spread it in an even layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown, the top springs back when gently pressed, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool completely in the pan, about 2 hours.

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

In a large mixing bowl, whip the cream cheese and butter until completely smooth. Sift in the powdered sugar, then add the cinnamon, vanilla, and maple syrup. Mix until smooth -- do not overmix.
Spread the maple cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Serve immediately or chill until later. The frosting is soft at room temperature and firms as it chills.

Notes

Soften the cream cheese and butter for the frosting so it whips up smooth and creamy.
The cream cheese frosting is soft at room temperature. For thicker frosting, beat in more powdered sugar, ¼ cup at a time.
Do not overmix the cream cheese frosting, or it will become runny.
You can also bake banana bars in a jelly roll pan, just adjust the baking time down to account for the thinner bars.

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