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Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Icing

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Description

These moist, flavorful banana bars with cream cheese icing come together in just a few minutes and are a fun alternative to banana bread!


Ingredients

banana bars

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour, lightly spooned into the measuring cup and leveled with a knife
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1 cup ripe, mashed banana

cream cheese icing

1 8-ounce block cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract (you can use another teaspoon of vanilla if you prefer)
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar


Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 15 x 10 x 1″ jelly roll pan with shortening and set aside.

Add the sugar and butter to a large mixing bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, cream until light and fluffy. Add the sour cream (or yogurt), eggs, and vanilla and mix until well-combined. Whisk together the dry ingredients and then slowly add them to the mixture. Add the banana until just combined and then spread in the prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until a knife or pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely.

While the bars are cooling, use the handheld mixer to whip together the frosting ingredients until the frosting is light and fluffy. When the pan is completely cool, spread the icing on top and cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator.