Banana Bars

I found a banana bar recipe years ago in a cookbook, made a few changes, and ended up with this. I think it’ll quickly become one of your favorites!

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 t. vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1/4 t. salt
• 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, then beat it into the creamed mixture. Mix in the mashed bananas. Spread batter into a greased 12 X 17 jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

For the frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 t. vanilla
• 4 cups powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. When frosting is light and fluffy, lick the beaters and frost the bars. Then lick out the bowl…cream cheese frosting is a bit of heaven on earth.

Your ripe bananas will never go to waste again!