Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Elevate your baking game with these delectable Cream Cheese Frosted Banana Bars, a delightful twist on traditional banana bread. Perfect for utilizing those overripe bananas, these bars are a crowd-pleaser with their lush texture and the added bonus of a heavenly cream cheese frosting.

Unveiling the Delight of Banana Bars:

Banana bars come in various forms, resembling anything from dense cookies to sheet cakes or even granola bars. In this particular rendition, the bars capture the essence and texture of banana bread, presented in a cake-like form and crowned with a luscious cream cheese frosting.

Crafting Soft and Moist Banana Bars:

1. Creaming the Butter and Sugar:
   • Utilize a stand mixer or electric mixer to whip the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Incorporating Wet Ingredients:
   • Introduce eggs, sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt into the mix. The addition of salt to the wet ingredients ensures thorough dissolution.
3. Adding Dry Ingredients:
   • Sprinkle baking soda, add flour, and beat on low speed until almost combined.
4. Mashing Bananas:
   • Integrate mashed bananas and beat until just combined.
5. Baking:
   • Transfer the batter into a rectangular pan and bake at 350°F for approximately 30 minutes.
6. Frosting and Serving:
   • Whip up a simple cream cheese frosting with butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Frost the cooled bars, cut into squares, and optionally top with banana chips.

Pro Tips for Banana Bar Success:

• Ripe Bananas are Key:
  • Optimal flavor and texture are achieved with ripe bananas, preferably those with a few brown spots.
• Parchment Paper Lining:
  • Line the baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal and serving.
• Refrigerate Leftovers:
  • Due to the cream cheese frosting, refrigerate the bars for storage, and let them reach room temperature before indulging.

Ingredients for Banana Bars:

For the Bars:

• 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs
• Cooking spray
• 2-3 ripe bananas
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

For the Frosting and Topping:

• 8 oz full-fat cream cheese
• 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 20 banana chips (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Making the Bars:

1. Soften 1 stick of unsalted butter and bring sour cream and eggs to room temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
3. Mash 2-3 ripe bananas in a bowl.
4. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and salt, then incorporate baking soda and flour.
5. Mix in mashed bananas, spread the batter in the pan, and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Crafting the Frosting:

1. Soften 8 oz cream cheese and 1 stick of butter.
2. Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, continuing to beat until smooth.
3. Once cooled, remove the banana bar slab from the pan using excess parchment.
4. Frost the bars, cut into 20 pieces, and optionally top each with a banana chip.

Recipe Notes:

• Storage:
  • Refrigerate bars if not consumed within a few hours. Allow them to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving to soften the frosting.

image source : the kitchn