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You will love these moist and easy banana bars with cream cheese frosting! Lightly sweetened, using overripe bananas to enhance the sweetness naturally.You might say it’s the best ever banana cake recipe!
This is the perfect recipe when your counter is overflowing with brown bananas and doesn’t use sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. This recipe is like banana bread but in bar form. Banana bars are also called banana cake, though my recipe is slightly less sweet than the typical one.
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
Why You Will Love these Healthy Banana Bars
- Quick– Take just 15 minutes to throw these delicious bars together, then bake and cool!
- Breakfast to Go– These banana bars are great for an on-the-go breakfast, especially when you omit the frosting. But they’re also a delicious treat for a mid-day snack or tasty dessert.
- Lower in Sugar – I love cutting back sugar in traditional recipes; I’ve almost cut the sugar in half for this moist banana cake recipe. Plus I’ll show you to make it entire sugar-free.
Healthy Twist
I’ve already greatly reduced the sugar in these banana bars, but if preferred you can take it a step further.
- Omit the frosting altogether and use a sugar-replacement for a completely sugar-free banana bar.
- Make only half of the cream cheese frosting recipe or make the full recipe and reserve the other half for another baked goodie.
- Use a powdered sugar monk fruit replacement in the cream cheese frosting.
Simple Ingredients for Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Butter| Start these banana bars with salted butter at room temperature. If you use unsalted butter, add just a ¼ teaspoon of salt to the batter.
- Sugar| Sweeten this great treat with granulated sugar; I’ve cut down the sugar substantially on this classic recipe.
- Eggs| I use large eggs in all of my baking, room temperature is best; if you forget, submerge the eggs in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for 5-7 minutes.
- Vanilla| Add a creamy and rich taste to the frosted bars with vanilla extract in the batter.
- Bananas| Be sure to choose well-ripened bananas and have them mashed and ready to go.
- Flour| I always use unbleached all-purpose flour, see variations for gluten-free banana bars.
- Baking soda| Baking soda will help the final results be chewy and light.
- Cinnamon| Ground cinnamon balances the sweetness, with a warm spice.
- Frosting| Make delicious cream cheese frosting by combining cream cheese, ½ cup butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt.
How to Make the Best Ever Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1 | Preheat Oven, Prep Pan
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F (175° C) and greasing a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or butter, or you may use a jelly roll pan for thinner bars or 9×9 square baking pan, for thicker bars.
Step 2 | Cream butter and sugar
Next, in a large bowl of a stand mixer or electric hand mixer cream butter and sugar together on medium-high for about 3 or 4 minutes. Once the mixture is light and fluffy, add the eggs one at a time, mixing for 30 seconds after each addition.
Add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated. Then, mix in the mashed bananas, the mixture may look curdled, that’s okay, it will come together when you add the dry ingredients.
Step 3 | Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl, whisking until combined. Then, gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients.
Lower the speed and carefully combine the ingredients until the batter is creamy and smooth, mixing until combined; do not overmix.
Step 4 | Bake Healthy Banana Bars Recipe
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the top springs back lightly when touched and a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. See below for times for various pan sizes.
Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely before frosting.
Step 5 | Frost Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
In the meantime, prepare the frosting by mixing the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt on medium-high in a stand or hand mixer until light and fluffy 2-4 minutes.
Start at a lower speed, slowly adding the powdered sugar, and increase the speed until you have smooth cream cheese frosting.
Then, frost the delicious banana bars, slice, andenjoy!
Baking Times for Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
For all three pan sizes, bake until golden, toothpick inserted comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs and the top springs back when lightly touched.
- 9×13 Pan | Bake bars for 20-25 minutes.
- 9×9 inch pan | Thicker bars will require more time; start checking at about 35 minutes, baking for 45-50 minutes.
- Jelly Roll pan These bars will be thinner; start checking at about 15 minutes.
Fresh Tips
- Be sure to choose brown and ripe bananas for the best results.
- Ensure the cream cheese, eggs, and butter are at room temperature before adding them to the recipe to make the batter easier to mix and silky smooth!
- Mix at a low or medium speed when adding powdered sugar to the frosting to avoid a mess.
If you’re craving more easy and delicious bar recipes, check out these tangyLemon Cranberry Bars, sweetOatmeal Cranberry Bars, and my irresistibleBrowned Butter Sugar Cookie Bars with Salted Caramel Frosting.
High Altitude Banana Bars Recipe
- Increase flour by 2 level tablespoons
- Decrease sugar to 1 ¼ cups
- Reduce baking soda to ¾ teaspoon
- Bake as directed, start watching a few minutes early.
Variations & Substitutions for Healthy Banana Bars
- Prefer to use Oil? Swap the butter for the same amount of your favorite vegetable oil.
- Chocolate Banana Bars:Add mini semi-sweet chocolate chips to the banana bread bars for a decadent bite of gooey chocolate.
- Fudgy Frosting:If you prefer rich chocolate flavor over cream cheese frosting, see thisFudge Brownierecipe to make a tasty frosting.
- Classic Buttercream Banana Bars:This homemade Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is another great recipe alternative to cream cheese icing.
- Mini Banana Bars: Slice the bars into smaller pieces to make the perfect bite-sized bars.
- Banana Oat Bars: Replace half of the flour with oat flour (or grind oats in blender) and sprinkle in ¼ cup of old-fashioned roll oats.
- Banana walnut cake: Stir in ½ -⅔ cup chopped toasted walnuts into the banana cake batter.
Gluten Free Banana Cake
These bars are easily made gluten-free. Replace the all-purpose flour with half Gluten-Free all-purpose flour (<– my favorite) and half with oat flour (easily made by grinding oats in your blender); proceed as directed.
*Make sure that your oats and oat flour are certified gluten-free.
Sugar-Free Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
I have successfully made this banana bar recipe using a cup-for-cup sugar replacement. My favorite to use is Monk Fruit, as it comes in granulated sugar form as well as powdered sugar form.
Use a little less when making the cream cheese frosting, as it’s a bit more sweet than typical powdered sugar.Replace regular sugar and powdered sugar for cup-for-cup replacements, proceed with recipe.
Recommended Tools
- I love my USA nonstick baking pans! Try this 9×13 inch pan.
- Or keep it classic with this versatile Pyrex baking dish.
Always use overripe bananas when baking to get the sweetest fruity banana flavor!
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do with leftover cream cheese frosting?
There are countless ways to use extra cream cheese frosting, including making a dessert cheese ball, frosting oatmeal cookies, or, my favorite, cinnamon rolls (homemade or canned).
How do you get bananas to ripen quickly?
For this recipe and other bakes involving bananas, you’ll want the fruit to be as ripe as possible for the most flavor. If your bananas are still green, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and bake the bananas in the oven at 300° F (150° C) for 15 to 20 minutes. When the banana peel turns black, they should be good to go! However, these will still change the taste of the banana cake bars.
Can you make banana bars ahead of time?
Sure! Bake the bars as instructed, let them cool completely, then store them in an airtight container before adding the frosting. Combine the frosting ingredients and store them in a separate container. Before serving, smear the frosting onto the bars– easy!
Can you freeze bananas?
YES! Overripe, leftover bananas, freeze great for later! Peel the bananas, then keep them whole or slice them in half. Add the bananas to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and freeze 1-2 hours. Transfer frozen bananas to a freezer-safe bag or container, and place them back in the freezer to store for a few months. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before adding them to another recipe and be sure to drain off any liquid after thawing.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate– Leftover frosted banana bars will be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days when sealed with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container.
How to Freeze Banana Bars
For longer storage, tightly cover the unfrosted bars and keep them in the freezer for up to two months.
Breakfasts that Pair Well with Banana Bars
Enhance your breakfast experience by pairing the delightful Best Banana Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting with a selection of mouthwatering savory options.
Try Instant Pot Egg Bites, generously filled with savory sausage and cheese, providing a satisfying and protein-packed start to your day. For a crispy and fast addition, make these Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Links, and these Air Fryer Hash Browns for a quick on-the-go breakfast.
Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Sausage Links (Fresh or Frozen)
Enjoy perfectly crisp and juicy breakfast link sausage in the Air Fryer. The best part, easier clean-up, no greasy mess! Sausage links or patties are excellent for a quick and easy breakfast. Use pork, turkey or chicken sausages!
Read more
CrispyAir Fryer Hash Brown Patties(Frozen or Thawed)
Enjoy crispy hash brown patties in less than 15 minutes with the convenience of an air fryer. Perfect for busy mornings, these delicious treats are loved by kids, teens, and adults alike.
Read more
Instant Pot Egg Bites Recipe with Sausage and Cheese
If you have an Instant Pot at home, you must try this easy and cheesy Instant Pot Egg Bites Recipe with savory breakfast sausage and your choice of shredded cheese. Especially if you are craving Starbucks sous vide egg bites!
Read more
Best Drinks to Serve with Banana Bars
Pair your Best Banana Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting with one of these delightful drink options. Enjoy the comfort of a Homemade Chai Tea Latte or indulge this adult Hot Buttered rum.
Starbucks White Hot Chocolate Recipe
A quick and easy recipe on how to make a Starbucks White Hot Chocolate recipe at home. Save time and money, by making this fast copycat white hot chocolate recipe in the comfort of your own home.
Read more
Homemade Chai Tea Latte
Using everyday ingredients, save money by creating your own all natural Chai Tea Latte, superior to a fancy coffee shop.
Read more
The Best Christmas Morning Chai Recipe (Dutch Bros)
This holiday season enjoy this copycat Dutch Bros Christmas Morning Chai recipe. A chai latte that is spicy and flavorful chai tea mixed with half and half and swirled with white chocolate syrup. Delicious hot or cold.
Read more
More of the Best Banana Recipes
- Try my classic Moist Banana Bread recipe; you won’t be sorry!
- Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Banana Nutella Bread
- Healthy Banana Streusel Muffins
- Moist Banana Graham Oat Bread
- The Best Easy No Bake Banana Pudding Recipe (Magnolia Banana Pudding)
I hope you loved this Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!
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Best Banana Bars Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
You will love these moist and easy banana bars with cream cheese frosting! Lightly sweetened, using overripe bananas to enhance the sweetness naturally.You might say it's the best ever banana cake recipe!
5 from 16 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 403kcal
Author: Kathleen Pope
Equipment
KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5-Qt. Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Silver
Ingredients
Banana Bars
- ½ cup salted butter room temperature, replace with ½ cup vegetable oil if preferred (if using unsalted butter, add ¼ teaspoon additional salt.)
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar 1 ¼ cups for high altitude, use a monk fruit granulated sugar replacement for sugar-free
- 3 large eggs room temperature (if forgot, submerge in warm, not hot water for 5-7 minutes)
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 medium overripe bananas mashed, thawed if frozen, liquid drained
- 2 cups all-purpose flour + 2 tablespoons for high altitude, see notes for gluten-free
- 1 teaspoon baking soda reduce to ¾ teaspoon high altitude
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature, I used full fat
- ½ cup butter room temperature, salted or unsalted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- pinch kosher salt
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175° C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. See notes for baking in other size dishes.
Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl, on medium-high for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing for 30 seconds between additions. Then add vanilla, creaming until light. Slowly mix in mashed bananas.
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Then a little at a time, add dry ingredients to the mixing bowl with mixer on low speed. Gently mix until the batter is smooth and creamy and flour mixture is just combined.
Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes for 9×13 inch pan, until golden and springs back when lightly touched, and a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. (see notes for baking times for other pan sizes.
Allow the bars to cool completely before frosting. Once the bars have cooled, prep the frosting by creaming together the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, salt until light and fluffy on medium- high speed in a mixer.
Then with the mixer on low slowly add powdered sugar until smooth and creamy. Start on low, as the powdered sugar incorporates, increase the speed, and whip well until light and fluffy. Frost the bars, serve, and enjoy!
Tip for Lower Sugar Banana Bars
Make half a bath of the frosting or only use half the frosting and store the remaining frosting in an airtight container in the fridge up to one week or freezer up to 3 months. Enjoy on other baked goods.
Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.
Notes
Baking Times for Different-Sized Pans
For all three pan sizes, bake until golden; toothpick inserted comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs and the top springs back when lightly touched.
- 9×13 Pan | Bake bars for 20-25 minutes
- 9×9 inch pan | Thicker bars will require more time; start checking at about 35 minutes, baking for 45-50 minutes.
- Jelly Roll pan These bars will be thinner; start checking at about 12-15 minutes.
Variations & Substitutions
- Prefer to use Oil? Swap the butter for the same amount of your favorite vegetable oil.
- Chocolate Banana Bars: Add mini semi-sweet chocolate chips to the banana bread bars for a decadent bite of gooey chocolate.
- Fudgy Frosting:If you prefer rich chocolate flavor over cream cheese frosting, see thisFudge Brownie recipe to make a tasty frosting.
- Classic Buttercream Banana Bars:This homemade Vanilla Buttercream Frosting is another great recipe alternative to cream cheese icing.
- Mini Banana Bars: Slice the bars into smaller pieces to make the perfect bite-sized bars.
- Banana Oat Bars: Replace half of the flour with oat flour (or grind oats in blender) and sprinkle in ¼ cup of old-fashioned roll oats.
- Banana walnut cake: Stir in ½ -⅔ cup chopped toasted walnuts into the banana cake batter.
High Altitude Banana Bars Recipe
- Increase flour by 2 level tablespoons
- Decrease sugar to 1 ¼ cups
- Reduce baking soda to ¾ teaspoon
- Bake as directed; start watching for doneness a few minutes early.
Gluten Free Banana Cake
These bars are easily made gluten-free. Replace the all-purpose flour with half Gluten-Free all-purpose flour (<– my favorite) and half oat flour (easily made by grinding oats in your blender); proceed as directed. *Make sure that your oats and oat flour are certified gluten-free.
Sugar-Free Banana Bars Recipe
Using Monk Fruit granulated sugar and it comes in powdered sugar form. Replace regular sugar and powdered sugar for cup-for-cup replacements; proceed with the recipe.
● Store your leftover banana bars in the fridge for up to 5 days covered with plastic wrap or transferred to an airtight container.
● These bars can sit on the counter for 2-4 hours before returning to the fridge once frosted.
● It is important to use ripe bananas to maximize the banana flavor.
● The ground cinnamon helps balance the sweetness of the frosting and the banana bars themselves.
● Using room-temperature butter and cream cheese makes putting the frosting together easier by preventing clumps of cream cheese from forming.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 610IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
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