These moist, tender Banana Bars with cream cheese frosting are the ultimate dessert for banana lovers. Easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for using up overripe bananas!
Moist, fluffy, and full of banana flavor, these easy banana bars are the perfect way to turn overripe bananas into a crowd-pleasing dessert. With a soft, cake-like texture and a rich cream cheese frosting on top, this homemade treat is ideal for potlucks, parties, or a simple family dessert.
Made with everyday ingredients, banana bars deliver all the comforting flavor of banana bread. It’s just in bar form and even easier to serve. We also love to make Banana Cream Cheesecake Bars.
Table of contents
Why We Love These Banana Bars
- Moist and Tender Texture – Each bite is soft, fluffy, and packed with banana flavor.
- Perfect for Ripe Bananas – A delicious way to use up overripe bananas sitting on the counter.
- Crowd-Pleasing Dessert – Always a hit at potlucks, bake sales, and family gatherings.
- Easy to Make – Simple ingredients and minimal prep make this recipe totally beginner-friendly.
- Cream Cheese Frosting – The rich, tangy frosting pairs perfectly with the sweet banana base.
- Great for Any Occasion – Serve as a snack, dessert, or even a sweet breakfast treat.
Ingredients
Bars
- All-Purpose Flour – The foundation of the bars, giving them a soft, cake-like texture.
- Ground Cinnamon – Adds warm, cozy flavor that complements the bananas beautifully.
- Baking Soda – Helps the bars rise and stay light and fluffy.
- Salt – Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted Butter (softened) – Adds rich flavor and helps keep the bars moist.
- Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the bars while letting the banana flavor shine through.
- Large Eggs – Provide structure and help bind the ingredients together.
- Sour Cream – Keeps the texture ultra-moist and tender; can be swapped with Greek yogurt if desired.
- Mashed Ripe Bananas – The key ingredient! Overripe bananas bring natural sweetness and deep banana flavor.
- Chopped Walnuts (optional) – Add crunch and a nutty contrast to the soft bars.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cream Cheese (softened) – Smooth and tangy, perfect as the base of a classic frosting.
- Unsalted Butter (softened) – Adds creaminess and a buttery finish.
- Vanilla Extract – Enhances the flavor with a warm, sweet note.
- Powdered Sugar – Sweetens and thickens the frosting until it’s silky smooth and spreadable.
Find the complete ingredient list at the bottom of the page.
Variations and Additions
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch and a nutty flavor.
- Mix in chocolate chips for extra sweetness and richness.
- Stir in shredded coconut to add a tropical twist.
- Sprinkle pumpkin spice into the batter for warm spices.
- Use maple syrup or honey instead of some sugar for natural sweetness.
- Top with toasted coconut flakes after icing for texture and flavor.
- Drizzle caramel or chocolate sauce over the cream cheese icing for decadence.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.
- Step 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined. Set the dry mixture aside.
Step 3. Using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light, smooth, and fluffy.
Step 4. Next, mix in the eggs, mashed bananas and milk until combined. Then stir in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Fold in the walnuts by hand.
Step 5. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
Step 6. Bake for 20-25 or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 7. While the bars are cooling, make the frosting. Beat together the butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed for 3 minutes. Use a hand held mixer or stand up mixer. Then mix in the vanilla extract.
Step 8. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar until combined. Then increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat until fluffy. This should take 3-4 minutes.
Step 9. Spread the frosting on the bars.
Step 10. Slice and enjoy.
Storage
Wrap any leftovers with plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Pro Tips
- Use very ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bars will be.
- Mash bananas thoroughly: This ensures the bananas are evenly mixed throughout the batter for consistent taste and texture.
- Don’t overmix the batter: Overmixing can make the bars tough instead of soft and moist.
- Bake until a toothpick comes out clean: This helps avoid underbaked, gooey centers.
- Let bars cool completely before icing: Spreading cream cheese icing on warm bars can cause it to melt and become runny.
Try More Easy Banana Recipes
Give this recipe a try today! Once you’ve enjoyed it, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment and, if you loved it, consider giving a 5-star review. Your feedback means a lot!
Banana Bars
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- 1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted Butter softened at room temperature (1 stick)
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1/3 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/2 Cup Mashed Ripe Bananas
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- 1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter softened at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- With a hand held electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Mix in the eggs, mashed bananas and milk until combined.
- Stir the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.
- Hand mix in the chopped walnuts.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the bars are cooling, make the frosting.
- Mix together the butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed for 3 minutes with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer. Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar until combined.
- Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat (for 3-4 minutes) until the frosting mixture is fluffy.
- Once the bars are completely cool, spread the frosting on top using an offset spatula.
- Then the bars are ready to slice, serve and enjoy!
