Banana Bars

These bars turned out to be very popular in our house. My kids preferred their bars without frosting so I left half frosting free. This is a great way to use up bananas without having to resort to banana bread or smoothies. I love sour cream in combination with bananas. My all time favorite banana bread calls for sour cream. My Sister's Kitchen used a whipped cream cheese frosting but I was out of whipping cream so I just used a simple cream cheese frosting.

Banana Bars
My Sister's Kitchen

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 (16 ounce) container cream cheese frosting, or homemade cream cheese frosting or Whipped Cream Cheese frosting.

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter. Finally, mix in the mashed banana. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bars to cool completely before frosting with the cream cheese frosting. Makes approx 35 bars.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 stick butter, room temperature
8 oz cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

With an electric mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes on medium speed until very smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
Add the vanilla extract and mix. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness.