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    Home » Bread » Banana Bars Recipe

    Published: Aug 24, 2022 · Modified: Oct 1, 2022 by Desarae

    Banana Bars Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Banana Bars are way underrated and always the first dish gone when I take them anywhere. They fluffy, moist cake (not too sweet, not too plain) with cream cheese frosting cannot be beat. This banana bars recipe is the ultimate recipe. I'd say even better than our banana bread recipe because #frosting.

    Fork with banana bars and one bite taken out.

    Why You Will LOVE These Banana Bars

    I've tried all the top rated recipes on google and Pinterest. I love banana bars that much. Some were too flat, some too dense, some just blah. It's been a disappointing journey! So I decided I needed to make my own recipe. Thick, fluffy banana bars with the ultimate cream cheese PLUS if you want gluten-free banana bars, I can tell you how to make those with this recipe too!

    What Are Banana Bars?

    They are similar to most banana sweet breads and desserts. A light sweet bread but baked in a half sheet cake pan and topped with frosting. When Banana is added to the batter it helps to sweeten the cake and add moisture but doesn't carry a strong banana flavor. The result is still a thick, fluffy cake with a sweet buttery flavor. Topped with a cream cheese frosting the pair is to die for.

    Three fluffy banana bars stacked on top of each other frosted with cream cheese frosting.

    What Do I Need For Banana Bars?

    • Over-ripe bananas- over ripe bananas (banans a little squishy with brown spots) are best because they are sweeter! The starches have started to convert to sugar making them amazing for baking.
    • Buttermilk- if you don have this its ok! I Make mine from home 99% of the time. You will just need milk and lemon juice.
    Ingredients for banana bars on a marble cutting board in bowls.

    How to Make Banana Bars

    Step 1: Start mashing your bananas.

    Two photos, one of bananas on a plate second of the same bananas mashed with a black fork.

    Step 2: Make your buttermilk if you are making your own.

    Mix 1 ½ tablespoon of lemon juice with 1 ½ cup milk. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Since it needs to sit for about 5 minutes I like to do this as one of the first steps while I mix the other ingredients. You can also use half and half or heavy cream if in a pinch.

    Step 3: Mix your dry ingredients

    Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and powder. You do this step to make sure the rising agents are incorporated evenly throughout the batter.

    Dry ingredients added to a bowl and stirred together.

    Step 4: Mix together wet ingredients

    Beat your butter, add in eggs and buttermilk.

    Butter creamed together and eggs, buttermilk added.

    Alternate adding bananas and dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

    Steps showing wet, banana and dry ingredients being added and mixed in a large glass bowl.

    Bake your Banana Bars

    Place your banana bar batter into a half sheet pan or jelly roll pan. You'll bake for 350 for 20 minutes, or until it is golden on top.

    PROTIP: I like to line mine with parchment paper and lightly spray the sides with cooking oil.

    Banana bar batter added to a jelly roll pan.

    How to make Gluten-Free Banana Bars

    I have made these banana bars gluten free many times. To make gluten-free banana bars substitute your regular flour for cup for cup flour. I have had the most success with the brand Cup-4-Cup Gluten-free flour.

    You will notice with gluten-free flour the batter texture is more gluey than creamy smooth. That is 100% normal.

    Image of banana bar batter made with gluten free flour to show the texture difference.

    Banana Bars Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

    While your cake is bake and cooling you can make your frosting.

    Step 1: Start by taking your cream cheese and butter and beating them. You will want to beat them for 2-3 minutes. If using your stand mixer use your paddle attachment.

    Step 2: Slowly beat in your powder sugar, vanilla and milk.

    Step 3: Beat the frosting for an additional 3-5 minutes until it is smooth and fluffy in texture.

    Four Photos showing cream cheese and powder sugar being beat together for a fluffy frosting.

    Frost Your Banana Bars with your Cream Cheese Frosting

    Once your bars have cooled smooth your frosting over the cake evenly.

    Flat spatula spreading frosting on cake.

    Serve Your Banana Bars

    Slice your cake into desired sized squares. Because these bars are so dang delicious and it's a one layer cake I definitely recommend larger squares than smaller ;)

    Frosted Banana Bars evenly cut into squares.

    FAQ's

    Are Banana Bars Easy to make?

    Yes! You get the satisfying cake and frosting craving fulfilled without all the hassle of a complicated cake recipe. Not to mention the cake bakes and cools much faster than a large cake.

    Are banana bars good for a crowd!

    Yes! you can divide these bars up into smaller portions and they will go a long way! Plus they're sweet fruity cake flavor is one that everyone, even the pickiest eater, loves.

    How do I store leftover banana bars?

    The bars can sit at room temp up to three days, in the fridge 5-7 days or freeze up to 3 months. I recommend storing in an air tight container.

    Frosted banana bars cut into squares.

    Looking for other similar desserts? Try these Bars

    Zucchini Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

    Lemon Bars

    M&M Chewy Blondie Bars!

    Frosted banana bars cut into squares.

    Let's be Friends!

    If you tried this Banana Buttermilk Muffins or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave us a comment below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else we’re getting up to!

    Banana Bars Recipe

    Delicious, flavorful banana buttermilk muffins. They are a family favorite!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 20 Bars
    Calories: 471kcal
    Author: Kadee & Desarae

    Ingredients

    • 3 cup flour
    • 1 ½ cup sugar
    • 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
    • 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
    • ½ tsp. salt
    • 3 eggs
    • ¾ cup butter
    • 1 ½ cup buttermilk
    • 4 large mashed bananas

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 1 cup butter room temp
    • 4 oz cream cheese room temp
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1-2 tbsp milk as needed
    • 6 cups powder sugar

    Instructions

    • Mix together dry ingredients
    • In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients, omitting bananas.
    • While mixing alternate adding in your dry ingredients and bananas to your wet ingredients.
    • Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 20-25 min in a jelly roll or half sheet pan. Let cool before frosting.

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Cream together cream cheese and butter for about 2 minutes, until they are nice and fluffy.
    • while mixing add in vanilla and powder sugar. If needed add in milk. Beat for 4-5 minutes after all ingredients are added and frosting will be nice and smooth.
    • Frost cake when its cooled. Serve!

    Video

    Notes

    For gluten-free banana bars use Cup-4-Cup brand gluten-free flour. Add in the same amount as the recipe calls for regular flour. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 364mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 654IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @OhSoDelicioso or tag #ohsodelicioso!
    Nutrition Facts
    Banana Bars Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 471 Calories from Fat 180
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 20g31%
    Saturated Fat 12g75%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 75mg25%
    Sodium 364mg16%
    Potassium 153mg4%
    Carbohydrates 72g24%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 54g60%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 654IU13%
    Vitamin C 2mg2%
    Calcium 62mg6%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joanne says

      January 24, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      I added cinnamon and nutmeg just because I like those spices, and topped some with chocolate sprinkles for my four year old, they were perfect 🤩

      Reply
    2. Anita says

      September 25, 2019 at 3:50 pm

      Including the nutrition facts is really cool. How do you figure them out? How many grams of sugar would there be if you only used 1 cup instead of 1 1/2?

      Reply
      • Desarae says

        September 30, 2019 at 10:12 am

        Hi Anita! There is a program in the recipe card that does it for us when we input the ingredients and serving size!

        Reply
      • Ashley K says

        June 07, 2022 at 9:30 am

        5 stars
        I tried the recipe to a "T" and the muffins were delicioso! Thank you. I'm so glad I can always look here for good recipes.

        Reply
    3. MICHELE HANSEN says

      September 04, 2018 at 7:38 am

      5 stars
      wow the best banana muffins i added mini chocolate chips and it is delicious
      thank you for this amazing recipe

      Reply
    4. Emily Kemp says

      July 05, 2018 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      These look incredible, love that you use buttermilk in these!

      Reply

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