Decadent Cream Cheese Frosted Banana Bars

A new edition of The 250 Best Brownies, Bars and Squares has come out, and I got lured into by Ford asking if he could have some new treats for school lunches. Remember my whining about having to get rid of wheat flour, and then finding some hidden away? I figured if I am going to use it up, I am going all the way and living it up.

Cream Cheese Frosted Banana Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• Pinch sea salt
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1½ cups banana, mashed (3-4)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°, oil or spray a 9×13″ glass baking pan.

In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, beat sugar and butter until smooth and creamy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Stir in vanilla, then bananas. Blend in flour mixture. Spread evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 50 minutes (recipe says 30 to 35, mine took 50), till a toothpick comes out clean in the center. Let cool on a wire rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese (regular or lower-fat), softened
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Stir in vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until smooth and spreadable. Spread over top of cooked cake and cut into bars.

FTC Disclaimer:

We received a review copy.