If you like bananas, you’ll LOVE these frosted Banana Bars. Tender, delicious, and perfect for a crowd, they’re irresistible!
Similar to our Banana Bread Brownies and Banana Cupcakes, these Banana Bars are packed with banana flavor! If you love our Classic Banana Bread Recipe, you’ll love this frosted bar version that is just as good (or better)!
Who loves bananas?
We are definitely obsessed in my family!! We buy 2 bunches a week! YUP. It’s a great snack that the kids love and one that I don’t mind them eating at all.
Occasionally, we are left with a few by the end of the week so I’m often baking with those leftover bananas.
The kids love these baked goods just as much! I’m right there with them and love a warm slice of Banana Bread or a delicious Banana Muffin in the morning. These Banana Bars are also a favorite!
Not sure if it’s the sour cream or loads of butter that make these bars so moist and delicious OR the cream cheese frosting, but either way, they’re amazing.
Banana Cake Bars don’t last long at my house and have been added to the “recipes to make with over-ripe bananas” list. 😉
Making Banana bars with cream cheese frosting
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.
Recipe Tips
When it comes to baking, the more brown and black a banana is, the better it will be! A green or yellow banana will never yield a good banana flavor for baking.
How to ripen bananas. To ripen green 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. We like to decorate our Banana Bread Bars with banana slices. Do not put them on too early because the bananas will get brown.
Storing Info
STORE. 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.
Make ahead of time. These can be made in advance and placed in the fridge. Frost closer to when serving for the best result.
If decorated with fruit, I recommend taking it off before storing and replacing it with fresh fruit before serving.
Recipe FAQ
Yes, you can but they’re harder to freeze with frosting without making a mess or messing up the bars. We suggest freeze the bars unfrosted, then frosting when ready to serve
For a variation, top the bars with chopped walnuts, Caramel Syrup, chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, or berries. Make chocolate chip Banana Bars by adding chocolate chips to the batter!
Of course! We suggest making the bars and covering and then frosting before serving. They are good at room temp for 5 days but can stored in the fridge for up to 7 days.
For more banana recipes:
- Banana Crumb Muffins
- Cream Cheese Filled Banana Bread
- Banana Cupcakes
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Banana Bread Brownies
Banana Bars Recipe
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.
Video
Notes
Pictures for this recipe were re-taken by contributor, Alicia, of The Baker Upstairs.
Totally pinned. Totally making these!
These look absolutely breathtaking! I can’t wait to make them.
Turned out so well! and it really was so moist! Thank you
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.
Bananas are my addiction! I always buy way too many! This cake turned out super moist! loved it!
The best banana bars I have ever had!! They are so moist & the frosting is to die for!! I will definitely make these again!!
I love banana bars! These are delicious, thank you!
I am always looking for new ways to use my overripe frozen bananas. Thank you!
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 absolutely love banana bars and was so excited to try this recipe! They were so easy to make and crazy delicious!
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 love bananas and every Banana recipe you do is amazing! Great flavor, moist and YUMMY
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 followed thedirections exactly. My family loved the bars.
I am glad they did!! Thank you for trying it!
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.
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!
Loving all your recipes that I have tried and hoping for more!
Thank you!! So glad that you are loving the recipes!
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!
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 are super delicious and I would never have thought of these before! thank you so much for sharing
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.