Banana bars made with warm spices baked in a sheet pan and topped with cream cheese frosting. A great recipe to use up brown bananas that serves a crowd!
Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting have a vintage feel to me, like something your grandma would bake for you. This is the kind of recipe I imagine someone baking to serve the whole neighborhood after school snacks.
Inspired by a prize-winning recipe for banana bars, these have been made healthier by reducing the sugar to half of what is in similar recipes for banana bars. With the frosting, it is just the right amount of sweetness.
Warm spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, nutmeg and cloves add depths of flavor. It tastes similar to banana bread but milder, like banana bread in a cake form.
Ingredients
For the Best Banana Bars
- Butter
- Brown Sugar – I used light brown sugar.
- Granulated Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Greek Yogurt – Sour cream may be substituted.
- Bananas – Mashed, approximately three to four bananas.
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Spices: Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves, Salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Butter
- Cream Cheese
- Powdered Sugar
- Vanilla
Since these bars alone are less sweet, I don’t recommend skipping the frosting. Paired with the cream cheese frosting they are just the right amount of sweet.
For a fancy take on the cream cheese icing, substitute the vanilla with vanilla bean paste. Flavor is excellent and there will be flecks of vanilla bean throughout the frosting.
How to Make
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a half sheet pan (18" x 13") pan.
- Whisk together flour, salt, and spices in a medium mixing bowl; set aside.
- In a bowl fitted for a stand-mixer, cream together softened butter and sugars. Add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated.
- Mix in Greek yogurt (or sour cream), vanilla and mashed bananas.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, be careful not to overmix.
- Spread banana batter into prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Variations
- Healthier: As noted, the sugar has been reduced in this recipe. I have made this using half whole wheat white flour and half all-purpose with success. A tablespoon of chia or flax seeds could be mixed into the batter for added nutrition.
- Banana Nut Bars: Fold ½ cup of chopped nuts into batter.
- Banana Chocolate Chip Bars: Fold 1 cup of mini chocolate chips into batter.
Storage & Serving
Once frosted, store in the refrigerator. Best if consumed in three days.
These make 48 banana bars, so feeds a crowd! I think they taste best chilled. They can be enjoyed anytime of day. Sometimes I even let my boys have these for breakfast.
FAQ
Can these be frozen?
Yes, wrap the banana bars in saran wrap and then place in freezer safe gallon bag or wrap in foil. Use within three months.
Can I adjust the sugar in this recipe?
Most banana bar recipes, such as this one from Taste of Home, call for two cups of sugar. My recipe is tested with one cup total of sugar and I wouldn’t recommend using less than that.
I don’t have a 18” X 13” sheet pan, what can I use?
This can be made in a 9" X 13" cake pan, the baking time will be longer. I haven’t tested that size yet, but I would check for doneness at 30 minutes and then go from there. Use the toothpick test to ensure the center is fully cooked.
📖 Recipe
Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Banana Bars
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp. Baking Soda
- ½ tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Cinnamon
- ½ tsp. Ground Ginger
- ½ tsp. Nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp. Cloves
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar lightly packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ cup Mashed Bananas 3-4 bananas
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup butter softened
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- Pinch of salt optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a half sheet (18” X 13”) pan and set aside.
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a medium mixing bowl; set aside.
- In a bowl fitted for a stand-mixer, cream together softened butter and sugars. Add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated.
- Mix in vanilla extract, Greek yogurt and mashed bananas.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, be careful not to overmix.
- Spread banana batter into prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Frosting
- In a high speed mixed, beat together butter and cream cheese until creamy. Add vanilla extract. Add one cup of powdered sugar at a time until desired consistency is reached. Optional – add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.
Enjoy!
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