Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

If you love banana bread and cake, these Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the perfect mix of both! Moist, soft, and full of banana flavor, these bars are topped with rich, tangy cream cheese frosting for the ultimate treat. They’re great for breakfast, dessert, or a sweet afternoon snack. Let’s get baking!

What You’ll Need

For the Banana Bars:

2 ripe bananas, mashed
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp milk (if needed for consistency)

For Toppings (Optional but delicious!):

Chopped walnuts
A drizzle of honey

a small plate of mashed bananas, a small plate of melted butter, a small plate of brown sugar, a small plate of granulated sugar, a small plate of eggs, a small plate of vanilla extract, a small plate of all-purpose flour, a small plate of baking powder, a small plate of baking soda, a small plate of cinnamon, a small plate of salt, a small plate of sour cream, a small plate of softened cream cheese, a small plate of softened butter, a small plate of powdered sugar, a small plate of extra vanilla extract, and a small plate of chopped walnuts

Pro Tips

Use overripe bananas for extra sweetness and flavor.
For a thicker frosting, chill before spreading.
Don’t overmix the batter—stir until just combined for soft bars.
Let the bars cool completely before adding frosting.
Make them extra special by adding chopped nuts or a caramel drizzle!

Tools You’ll Need

Mixing bowls
Whisk
Spatula
9×9-inch baking pan
Hand mixer (for frosting)

Instructions

Step 1: Mash the Bananas

In a bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth.

a mixing bowl filled with soft, mashed bananas, their creamy texture slightly chunky

Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients

Stir in the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

a mixing bowl with mashed bananas, golden melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract being whisked into a smooth, creamy mixture

Step 3: Add the Dry Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

a mixing bowl with all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt being whisked together into a light, fluffy mixture

Step 4: Combine & Fold in the Sour Cream

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, then stir in the sour cream until combined.

a spatula folding the dry flour mixture into the banana batter, creating a thick, slightly lumpy texture

Step 5: Bake the Banana Bars

Pour the batter into a greased 9×9-inch pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes.

smooth, golden banana batter being poured into a square baking pan, spreading evenly

Step 6: Cool the Bars

Let the bars cool completely before adding frosting.

a square pan of freshly baked banana bars, golden brown with slightly crisp edges, cooling on a wire rack

Step 7: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.

a mixing bowl with softened cream cheese and butter being whipped into a smooth, creamy frosting

Step 8: Frost & Serve

Spread the frosting over the cooled banana bars, slice, and enjoy!

a thick layer of creamy cream cheese frosting being spread over the banana bars with an offset spatula

Leftovers & Storage

Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Bring to room temp before serving for the best flavor!

Wrap-Up

And that’s it—your Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are ready! They’re soft, sweet, and full of banana goodness, with the perfect tangy frosting on top. Try them out, take a pic, and let me know how they turned out. Enjoy! 🍌🧁✨