These Easy Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are pure comfort in every bite! Packed with sweet banana flavor and topped with a thick, creamy layer of frosting, they strike the perfect balance of bar-to-frosting goodness. Bonus: They taste amazing straight from the fridge, making them an easy make-ahead treat that’s always a hit - whether it’s a casual snack or a crowd-pleasing dessert for any season!
Does anyone else always end up with a few overripe bananas on the counter? No matter how many I buy, there’s always at least one that turns brown too fast!
That’s why these Easy Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are a lifesaver. They’re soft, fluffy, and full of yummy banana flavor. Plus, the thick, creamy frosting makes them even more irresistible.
Once I saw how fast these bars disappear, I started buying extra bananas just so I’d have an excuse to make them. I always try to save a few in the freezer, but they never last long!
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Why you'll love this Banana Bar recipe
- Simple ingredients. This easy dessert recipe is made with pantry staples.
- Great way to use overripe bananas. It seems I always have overripe bananas on the counter. They are great to use in smoothies, oatmeal and these bars!
- Freezer friendly. Banana bars freeze beautifully making them the perfect make-ahead dessert.
Ingredients
You only need pantry staples to make these delicious banana bars.
Ingredient Notes:
- Butter: Softened butter creams with the sugar like a dream.
- Overripe Bananas: Give the bars their intense banana flavor.
- Sour Cream & Buttermilk: Both give the bars a tender crumb.
- Eggs: We always use large eggs when we bake.
- Flour: Regular all purpose flour is used in this recipe.
Ingredient Notes
- Cream Cheese: Full fat, softened cream cheese gives the frosting the most flavor.
- Butter: You can use salted or unsalted but make sure it's softened so it blends easily with the cream cheese.
- Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar is also known as confectioner's sugar.
Instructions
These easy bars come together in a few simple steps.
- Step 1: Start by creaming the butter and sugar in a bowl and then add the sour cream and stir.
- Step 2: Next add the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla and beat well.
- Step 3: Add the flour mixture and stir to combine.
- Step 4: Finally add the mashed banana and stir until completely incorporated.
- Step 5: Spread the batter in a jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper and bake.
- Step 6: Make the frsoting! Cream the butter and cream cheese together, then add vanilla and powdered sugar. Mix until the sugar is incorporated and the frosting is the desired consistency.
Expert tips for the best bars
- Use room temperature ingredients. Room temperature butter, eggs, sour cream and buttermilk cream together easily.
- Use overripe bananas. Overripe bananas add moisture and sweetness to the banana bars. Bananas that aren't ripe enough aren't as sweet.
- Use the right pan. A 15x10" jelly roll pan gives you the perfect ratio of bar to frosting.
- Chill the bars. Chilling the bars makes cutting easy and prevents the bars from getting soggy.
More Great Recipes
Easy baking recipes are the perfect sweet ending to any meal. Check out some of our other favorite sweet treats.
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Recipe
Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Banana Bars
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup sour cream, room temperature
- ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 medium overripe bananas, mashed
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
To make the Banana Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 10 x 15" jelly roll pan. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time and mix thoroughly. Stir in sour cream, buttermilk and vanilla.½ cup butter,, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 2 eggs, ½ cup sour cream,, ½ cup buttermilk,, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl; stir into the batter. Mix in the mashed banana. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 4 medium overripe bananas, mashed
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bars to cool completely before frosting with the cream cheese frosting.
To make the Frosting:
- Mix butter and cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar a cup at a time and mix until smooth. Thin with milk if necessary.½ cup butter,, 8 ounces cream cheese,, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 cups powdered sugar
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients. Room temperature butter, eggs, sour cream and buttermilk cream together easily.
- Use overripe bananas. Overripe bananas add moisture and sweetness to the banana bars. Bananas that aren't ripe enough aren't as sweet.
- Use the right pan. A 15x10" jelly roll pan gives you the perfect ratio of bar to frosting.
- Refrigerator - We love to eat these bars chilled. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Chilled bars also cut easier.
- Freezer - You can make a pan of these bars and freeze them for later. Wrap tightly and store in the freezer for up to three months. I often freeze them frosted but you can also freeze the bars unfrosted and frost them when you're ready to serve them.
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Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
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