If you’ve got ripe bananas, you’ll definitely want to make these banana bars.
Soft, moist and delicious, this recipe is packed with banana and pecan flavor and topped with my favorite buttery cream cheese frosting.
This recipe has been sponsored by Challenge Butter.
- They have lots of banana flavor and topped with my absolute favorite cream cheese frosting recipe.
- Butter gives the perfect texture, while bananas keep them moist.
- They’re easy to make and use basic staple ingredients.
- They keep well, and banana bars can be frozen.
What You Need To Make Banana Bars
Bananas: For best results, use brown bananas. Ripe bananas have lots of black spots and natural sugars. If the bananas are ripe and you’re not ready to bake, peel and freeze them.
Butter: Use high-quality unsalted butter, like Challenge butter. It is made from simple ingredients and creates the perfect crumb in these bars (and the best frosting).
Dry Ingredients: All-purpose flour is the base, and sugar adds sweetness and creates a perfect texture.
Add-ins: I love pecans with bananas, but feel free to replace them with walnuts or chopped slivered almonds. Mini chocolate chips can be used in place of nuts.
Cream Cheese Frosting: Cream cheese and butter should be at room temperature for a smooth frosting. If desired, replace it with either coconut frosting or chocolate buttercream frosting.
How to Make Banana Bars
- Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Cream the butter & sugar in a separate bowl until fluffy. Add the bananas & remaining wet ingredients.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
- Spread the batter into a baking pan and bake (recipe below).
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Combine all ingredients except powdered sugar with a hand mixer (recipe below).
- Slowly mix in powdered sugar & milk as needed.
- Spread over cooled banana bars, cut, & serve.
Storing Banana Bars
- Keep banana bars in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freeze portions on a baking sheet, wrap individually, and freeze for up to 4 weeks.
- Make the bars ahead of time and freeze the whole sheet (uncut) wrapped in plastic for up to 1 month.
- Unwrap and thaw at room temperature.
Got Bananas?
Did you make these Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting? Leave us a comment and a rating below.
Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Decadent banana bars with cream cheese frosting are a moist and tender dessert with a creamy sweet topping.
Banana Bars
Cream Cheese Frosting
To Make The Banana Bars
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 pan.
Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Cream butter and sugar with hand mixer until fluffy.
Add eggs, milk, mashed banana, & lemon juice. Mix well.
Stir the flour mixture and chopped nut into the wet mixture.
Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
While the bars are cooling, beat cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer until fluffy. Mix in vanilla and a pinch of salt.
Add powdered sugar, a bit at a time, until incorporated. Spread over the banana bars and serve.
Store Banana Bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Calories: 388 | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 587IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Cake, Dessert
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
