Name: Banana Bars
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 3 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 2 cups sugar; 3 large eggs, room temperature; 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; Dash salt; FROSTING:; 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 4 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Moist and full of sweet banana flavor, these easy banana bars are a delicious way to use up ripe bananas. Top them with your favorite frosting for an extra treat.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

3 large eggs, room temperature

1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

Dash salt

FROSTING:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 cups confectioners' sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1 Mix the wet ingredients

2 Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, five to seven minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each one. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla until everything is smooth.

3 Add the dry ingredients

4 In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until blended. Editor's Tip: Overmixing can lead to dense bars, so a light touch is best!

5 Bake the bars

6 Transfer the batter to a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 2o to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before adding the frosting.

7 Make the frosting

8 In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, then beat until smooth. Frost the cooled bars.