Friday, July 29, 2011

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting


The fruit flies were starting to gather around my brown bananas the other day. Do you know how hard it is to get rid of them? The fruit flies, I mean. Seriously, where do they come from? It seems like they spontaneously erupt. Eww. The bananas, on the other hand, were easier to deal with. A little flour, some butter, and a load of cream cheese frosting, along with those bananas, resulted in a little something called "banana bars".

Banana bars are really banana cake in a bar form. They are made in a 15" pan, so, in theory, they can feed a crowd. Or three people. They are a nice diversion from banana bread. The following recipe is adapted from one I found in a Taste of Home magazine.

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup low fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup light 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)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3-3/4 to 4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, yogurt, sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in bananas.

Spread into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool.

For frosting, in a bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Gradually beat in enough confectioners' sugar to achieve desired consistency. Frost bars. Store in the refrigerator.


Amazing what a little banana can do for cake.


Be sure to mix in the baking soda really well--you don't want that to clump together and taste icky.


The batter will be fairly thick....


.....but it spreads out nicely. Don't forget to butter and flour your pan.


Enough to feed a small army. Or three people.


The edges baked up a little crispy. Hmmm...it looks like someone picked a little off of the side.


The cream cheese frosting may be the best part. My husband followed me around until I gave him the bowl and spatula to lick.


Even better than Sara Lee. I know this, because my husband told me...

12 comments:

  1. I'm soooo making these today!

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  2. I hate those flys, they attacked my pineapple yesterday. This looks wonderful.

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  3. Thanks, guys! They were really yummy.

    DD--let me know how yours turn out.
    PattiT--Happy Birthday! If I lived near, I would make you a cake..
    Jennifurla--my MIL left some cider vinegar open on the counter and it took 2 weeks to get rid of them . :(

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  4. I love this!! Something new to make with bananas! Especially with the frosting.
    As for the flies...I heard that they come with the bananas. As the bananas ripen, the fruit fly eggs in the top of the banana hatch :(

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  5. Or maybe they're on the bottom of the banana (the peal that is). Either way, it's maddening

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  6. Here, that would feed a small army. Or two people

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  7. The instant I bring fruit into my house it seems I get those flies. The banana bars look fantastic!

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  8. I bet those flies are jealous that we now get to eat these cake-bars instead of them!

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  9. Btw, I found a way to get rid of the flies (gotta love the Internet). Just pour a couple of inches worth of cider vinegar (they love this stuff) into a jar with a narrow opening. I used one of my daughters water bottles. Then make a funnel with a piece of paper and set it on top. The flies can fly into the funnel, but can't get out. Then just set the damn things free--far from the house. I had to do this a couple of times--it took a few days, but I am now fruit fly free! :)

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  10. I finally got around to making these tonight...OMG!!! soooo darned good :)

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  11. These definitely need to happen at my house! Once again a "WoW" recipe Cathy. Thanks!

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