Banana Bars

This is another recipe I've been making for as long as I can remember. It seems like I always have over ripe bananas I am trying to use up. I love baked goods that use sour cream. It just gives them a delicious little tang that I can't resist. I've always topped them with cream cheese frosting until I found this AMAZING Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting on Melanie's Blog. It takes them to a whole new level. A perfect dessert for summer when you might be on chocolate overload or just want something a little lighter. They're also great if you're feeding a crowd.

Banana Bars

All Recipes

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 (16 ounce) container cream cheese frosting, or homemade cream cheese frosting or Whipped Cream Cheese frosting.

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter. Finally, mix in the mashed banana. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bars to cool completely before frosting with the cream cheese frosting. Makes approx 35 bars.

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

My Kitchen Cafe

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1 ½ cups powdered sugar (you can also substitute 1 cup granulated sugar if you don't have powdered sugar around)

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. Set aside. In another medium bowl, beat whipped cream until stiff peaks form (it helps to use a chilled bowl and chilled beaters - and make sure the peaks are stiff not soft). Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture and mix carefully (so as not to deflate cream) but well. Frost to your heart's delight! (Be careful if adding coloring - the liquid food coloring found in the baking aisle can quickly thin your icing so you may need to add a bit more powdered sugar to compensate.