The second "deal of the day" at the grocery store was a giant bag of bananas for $1.50. Unable to resist, I came home looking for new banana recipes. This one sounded yummy and looked easy.
I whipped it up last nite while cooking supper. It went together in a snap but after getting it in the oven, I discovered that I had none of the frosting ingredients except for about 1 cup powdered sugar! (Lesson learned, check pantry for all ingredients before getting started!) So, I made a glaze of powdered sugar, milk and vanilla and poured it over the pan before cutting into bars. It was great! Just the right amount of sweetness and I saved a lot of calories since I didn't use the cream cheese frosting. Either way, this one will go into my favorites. It's a nice snack cake or light dessert (or breakfast for Cousin Carol!). Of course, you could top it with ice cream and/or the cream cheese frosting! ;)
If you don't have a 10x15-inch pan, use a 9x13 and bake a little longer. The bars will just be thicker.
If you don't add the cream cheese frosting, you don't have to refrigerate it.
Frosted Banana Bars
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
For the Frosting:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar
FOR THE BANANA BARS:
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in bananas.
Spread into a greased 15-by-10-by-1-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool.
FOR THE FROSTING:
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Gradually beat in enough confectioners' sugar to achieve desired consistency. Frost bars. Store in the refrigerator.
Yum! now I can use those bananas and sour cream that I need to use up :)
ReplyDeleteShelly