These Banana Bars are in my Top 3 list of Best Desserts Ever. These are TO DIE FOR and the best way to use up ripe bananas, in my opinion.
Some weeks we go through bananas like crazy and other weeks I feel like I should open a Geriatric Banana Nursing Home in the far corner of our kitchen. This was an elderly banana nursing home week. An alarming number of ailing bananas were piled high in our fruit bowl and I knew I had to take action. I made a couple loaves of my favorite Banana Bread and then I made these Banana Bars (adapted from this recipe from Gold Medal Flour’s website).
They were so insanely delicious that I made another batch the following day. I deem these to be the world’s best dessert, and you know those are BIG words coming from me. THESE ARE THE BEST. Thank you, aging bananas of the world.
At some point this weekend I will make a trip to the grocery store and I plan to possibly purchase a few too many bananas in hopes of HAVING to make these bars again. These Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies may or may not be on my list, as well.
Banana Bars with Maple Frosting
Ingredients
BARS
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 bananas mashed
FROSTING
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 square baking dish with parchment paper. Lightly spray with cooking spray and set aside. Prepare the bars. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, light brown sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix until creamy.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix well and gradually add to batter. Mix until incorporated. Add mashed bananas and stir until combined. Pour into prepared baking dish. Spread batter evenly in pan with a spatula and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool.
- While the bars are baking, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, powdered sugar, dark brown sugar, salt and vanilla. Mix well. Gradually pour in the maple syrup while mixing. Mix on medium speed until frosting is fluffy and smooth.
- When bars are cooled, spread frosting evenly over the top. Refrigerate until ready to serve and cut into small squares. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Geriatric Banana Nursing Home ?!!! That’s the perfect way to describe my banana situation on a weekly basis. But I use it as an excuse to freeze big batches of them for purely baking purposes-like these! I’ve never had or heard of banana bars they look absolutely delicious!
I love freezing bananas, too, Meg! It’s perfect for times when I just NEED some delicious Banana Bars. I hope you try these….they are one of my favorite desserts of all time. Sooooo good! Enjoy!
Megan
These look awesome. I’m always looking for new banana recipes — I’ll have to give this one a try!