These Banana Bars are soft, sweet, and topped with the best cream cheese frosting making them completely addicting!
Not only are they an easy way to use up overripe bananas, but they feed a crowd, are simple and also loved by all. Our aunt has made these our entire lives, so they’ve shown up to at least 100 family functions, and they’re gone in minutes every time.
What makes these bars so good is how moist and fluffy they are, with just the right amount of sweetness and a creamy frosting on top. Banana Cake Bars don’t last long at my house and have been added to the “recipes to make with over-ripe bananas” list.
If you love banana desserts, try our Easy Banana Cake and Banana Poke Cake.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Soft and Moist: These bars stay tender and fluffy every time.
- Great for Sharing: Perfect for parties, potlucks, or family desserts.
- Moist Texture: Bananas and sour cream keep the bars soft and rich.
- Balanced Sweetness: The frosting adds sweetness without being too much.
Banana Bars Ingredients
- Unsalted butter (1 cup): Adds richness and helps create a soft texture.
- Sugar (1½ cups): Sweetens the bars and keeps them moist.
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the bars rise and stay fluffy.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Mashed overripe bananas (1½ cups): Adds natural sweetness and keeps the bars moist.
- Eggs (2): Binds the ingredients and gives structure.
- Sour cream (1 cup): Adds extra moisture and a slight tang for better flavor.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Enhances the sweetness and overall flavor.
- All-purpose flour (2 cups): Provides structure for the bars.
- Cream cheese (1 8-ounce package): Creates a creamy, tangy frosting base.
- Unsalted butter (½ cup): Adds richness to the frosting.
- Powdered sugar (2 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Vanilla extract (½ teaspoon): Adds flavor to the frosting.
How to Make Banana Bars
PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
BATTER. In a large bowl, beat butter with a hand electric mixer for about 30 seconds. Mix in sugar, baking soda, and salt, and beat until combined.
Add mashed bananas, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla, and mix to combine. Add flour and stir to combine.
BAKE. Pour into a greased 11-x-15-inch baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 25–30 minutes. Let cool in the pan.
FROSTING. While the Banana Cake Bars cool, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until combined.
Spread frosting over cooled bars and cut into squares.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Bananas: Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and sweetness.
- Tender Bars: Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars soft.
- Perfectly Frosted: Let bars cool completely before frosting.
- Quick Clean Up: Line the pan with parchment for easier removal.
- Ripen Bananas Faster: Place the bananas in a brown paper bag with an apple. Fold the top over and let it sit on the counter until ripe. Use the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Line the unpeeled bananas on the sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until evenly browned and soft.
- Decorating: Top with banana slices. Do not put them on too early because the bananas will get brown.
- Variations: Top with chopped walnuts, Caramel Syrup, chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or berries.
Banana Bars Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1½ cups sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups mashed overripe bananas about 3 bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with a hand mixer for about 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking soda, and salt and beat until combined. Add mashed bananas, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla and mix to combine. Add flour and mix to combine.
- Pour into a greased 11-x-15-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes. Let cool in the pan.
- While the bars cool, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars and cut into squares.
Notes
- Bananas: Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and sweetness.
- Tender Bars: Do not overmix the batter to keep the bars soft.
- Perfectly Frosted: Let bars cool completely before frosting.
- Quick Clean Up: Line the pan with parchment for easier removal.
- Ripen Bananas Faster: Place the bananas in a brown paper bag with an apple. Fold the top over and let it sit on the counter until ripe. Use the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Line the unpeeled bananas on the sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until evenly browned and soft.
- Decorating: Top with banana slices. Do not put them on too early because the bananas will get brown.
- Variations: Top with chopped walnuts, Caramel Syrup, chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or berries.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Make the bars and cover. Frost before serving. They are good at room temperature for 5 days, but can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days.
We suggest freezing the bars unfrosted, then frosting when ready to serve
Keep unfrosted Banana Bars at room temperature, but frosted ones need to be stored in the refrigerator. Store them covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
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This recipe was first shared October, 2014.
I made this recently when we had our annual family get together at the OBX. Everyone went crazy for this dessert. It has a very rich taste and you could have considered it a cake as it was about 3″ thick. I will definitely be making this again. Thanks for giving this family such a great treat!
Thanks so much for sharing and for making the recipe part of your family get together! 😊
How should I adjust this recipe if using a 12×19 pan (with an 11×17 cooking area)?
Janet P.
If you keep the recipe the same, the bars will be thinner so they will likely bake faster, so start checking around 18 to 22 minutes and keep a close eye on them. Hope that helps!
I don’t have a 11×15 baking dish. Can I use a 9×13?
But wonder how long to bake???
The bars will be thicker, but you can bake them in a 9×13 pan. Keep the temperature set to 350°F and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
These banana bars are delicious! They are moist without being mushy and have the perfect balance of banana flavor. They cut beautifully and hold up great. My family loved them and so did the friends we shared with! Thank you for posting this recipe!
I had a bunch of black bananas, begging to be used up. Made this and oh so yummy! I added a teeny tiny bit of almond extract too.
these are super delicious and I would never have thought of these before! thank you so much for sharing
These were super yummy! Not overly sweet, good banana flavor, and the frosting was spot on.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed the bars!
These far exceeded my expectations, which were already very high based on the description. Super moist, buttery, and full of great banana flavor! I can’t wait to make and share with my friends!
Loving all your recipes that I have tried and hoping for more!
Thank you!! So glad that you are loving the recipes!
These are moist and flavorful banana bars topped with delicious cream cheese frosting! It’s sinfully rich and boy I’m here to tell you it will become a family favorite!
The frosting is my favorite part of these banana bars. So glad you loved them too!
These are so good! They have become highly requested for family gatherings. My dad will let bananas brown just to tell me I need to make them.
I followed thedirections exactly. My family loved the bars.
I am glad they did!! Thank you for trying it!
Hello, great recipe, I didn’t have sour cream so instead i USED COCONUT MILK + 1 TBSP OF LEMON INSTEAD, WHICH IS THE SAME THING I DO WITH MY BANANA BREAD. mY HUSBAND LOVED THIS RECIPE. CAN’T WAIT TO MAKE IT AGAIN.
That sounds perfect!! Thank you for sharing what you did!
I love bananas and every Banana recipe you do is amazing! Great flavor, moist and YUMMY
I buy bananas Just to get over ripe baNanas. I love all the things you can do with them. This recipe is one of them. So good!!!!
I absolutely love banana bars and was so excited to try this recipe! They were so easy to make and crazy delicious!
I think it’s fate that I have ripe bananas sitting on my countertop as we speak. This looks too amazing to wait any longer to try it!
I am always looking for new ways to use my overripe frozen bananas. Thank you!
I love banana bars! These are delicious, thank you!
The best banana bars I have ever had!! They are so moist & the frosting is to die for!! I will definitely make these again!!
Bananas are my addiction! I always buy way too many! This cake turned out super moist! loved it!
I always have bananas that ripen too quIckly And so i freeze them fOr banana muffins. Ill have to give these bars a try instead. The cream Cheese looks delicious on top.
Turned out so well! and it really was so moist! Thank you
These look absolutely breathtaking! I can’t wait to make them.
Totally pinned. Totally making these!