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I have developed a large collection of bar recipes, including these banana bars with cream cheese frosting. These always wow a crowd with big banana flavor, moist texture, and complimentary frosting.
Moist Banana Bars
Of all my bar recipes, this has to be one of my top favorites. We normally think of banana bread when we have ripe bananas, but I used my experience in making bars to turn ripe bananas into a dessert that always gets rave reviews.
Keep reading for all my best tips and tricks, including how to ripen bananas faster!
For 27.75 years of my life, I just figured I didn’t like cream cheese frosting. Just like I thought I didn’t like cheesecake when I was younger because it had the word “cheese” in it.
Same thing goes for cream cheese frosting. But I got adventurous one day (yes, I’m laughing at this now!) and tried cream cheese frosting on cake, and what can I say?
It’s dreamy. It’s even better when paired with banana cake. Banana cake with cream cheese frosting were meant to be best friends.
Banana Nut Bar Ingredients
- unsalted butter: adds flavor and and tender texture
- water: water and butter are melted together to form the wet ingredients
- granulated sugar: adds sweetness, flavor and encourages browning
- brown sugar: adds sweetness & flavor, keeps the bars moist
- mashed bananas: adds banana flavor and acts as a binder
- buttermilk: adds moisture & fat, activates the baking soda
- eggs: binds the bars together by providing structure
- vanilla extract: adds flavor
- all purpose flour: flour is necessary to build structure
- baking soda: helps to leaven and lift the batter, affects browning and flavor
- salt: enhances the other flavors in the bars
- optional walnuts: add them into the batter or on top of the cream cheese frosting
How to Make Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
- On the stove top, melt the butter and water together. Remove from heat once melted.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, mashed bananas, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla.
- Gently stir in the flour, baking soda and salt (and chopped walnuts if you want).
- Gently stir in the melted butter mixture.
- Pour into a sprayed 10.5 x 15.5 pan and bake.
See our cream cheese frosting recipe instructions.
Time Required for Banana Nut Bars
- 10 minutes to prep the bars
- 22ish minutes to bake
- 1 hour to cool the bars
- 10 minutes to make the cream cheese frosting and frost the bars
Banana Bars Recipe Tips
- Properly measure the all purpose flour using the spoon and sweep method.
- Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until they are combined. Over mixing could lead to dry, dense bars.
- Don’t skip the cream cheese frosting, it’s amazing!
How to Ripen Bananas Quickly
To ripen bananas quickly, turn your oven to 300º F, place the bananas (with peels still on!) on a baking sheet and place them in the oven for 15-30 minutes. You want the peels to turn black and the bananas to be soft.
How to Store Banana Bars
Unfrosted banana bars can be covered in an airtight container and stored at room temperature on the counter for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place in the fridge.
If they are frosted with cream cheese frosting, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. My husband actually prefers them cold, straight from the fridge!
More like this Banana Bars Recipe
- Healthy Banana Breakfast Cookies
- Strawberry Banana Muffins
- Easy Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
- Bakery Style Banana Bread Muffins
Banana Bar FAQs
A jelly roll pan is a cookie sheet or baking sheet that has a raised edge. Our recipe calls for a 10.5 x 15.5 inch pan.
If you don’t have the specific size of pan, bake these bars in a 9×13 inch pan. The bars will be thicker and require a longer baking time. If baking in a 9×13 inch pan, check the bars at 25 minutes and adjust the baking time as needed.
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Banana Nut Bars
Ingredients
Banana Bars
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, 2 sticks, cubed
- ½ cup (118ml) water
- 1 ½ cups (297g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (107g) brown sugar
- 1 cup (227g) mashed banana, about 2 large bananas
- ½ cup (118ml) buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240g) all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (57g) chopped walnuts in the batter, optional
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, 1 stick, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups (339g) powdered sugar
Instructions
Banana Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray a 10×15 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- On medium-high heat over the stove, melt the butter and water and bring to a boil. Once it boils, remove it from the heat and set aside.1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, 1/2 cup (118ml) water
- In a mixing bowl combine the sugar, brown sugar, banana, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla, beat with an electric mixer until smooth, 1-2 minutes.1 1/2 cups (297g) granulated sugar, 1/2 cup (107g) brown sugar, 1 cup (227g) mashed banana, 1/2 cup (118ml) buttermilk, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and optional walnuts, then gradually add to the banana mixture.2 cups (240g) all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup (57g) chopped walnuts in the batter
- Gently stir in the melted butter mixture until incorporated.
- Pour the batter onto the baking sheet and bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the bars to cool completely before adding the frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese and butter, beat with an electric mixer until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Add in the vanilla extract and gradually add the powdered sugar, beat until smooth and thick. Spread the frosting on top of the cooled bars. Garnish with walnuts if desired. Slice and serve.8 oz (226g) cream cheese, 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3 cups (339g) powdered sugar
Video
Notes
How to Store Banana Bars
- Unfrosted banana bars can be covered in an airtight container and stored at room temperature on the counter for up to 3 days. For longer storage, place in the fridge.
- If they are frosted with cream cheese frosting, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
I can never resist a cake with cream cheese frosting! These banana bars look fabulous!!
I could polish them ALL off!
This recipe looks delicious! I know they’re called Banana NUT Bars, but are the walnuts absolutely necessary? Have you ever made the bars without them and, if so, did they turn out as well?
Thank you!
I would really like a recipe for diabetic fudge. well anything sweet for diabetics.
Good idea!