Essential Tips for Baking the Best Banana Bars

Achieving perfectly moist and flavorful banana bars is simpler than you might think, especially with a few expert tips in your arsenal. Follow these guidelines to ensure your banana bars turn out light, fluffy, and utterly irresistible every single time.

• Use Ripe Bananas for Optimal Moisture and Flavor: This is perhaps the most crucial tip! Overripe bananas, those with plenty of brown spots on their skin, are essential. As bananas ripen, their starches convert into natural sugars, intensifying their sweetness and banana flavor. This also makes them softer and easier to mash, contributing significantly to the moist texture of your cake. Don’t be afraid if they look too brown; the browner, the better for baking!
• Avoid Overmixing the Batter: Once you’ve added the flour and cornstarch, mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough, chewy cake rather than the light, fluffy banana bars we’re aiming for. A few lumps are perfectly fine and often preferred.
• Add Cornstarch for Extra Moistness: While optional, a tablespoon of cornstarch can work wonders! It helps to create a more tender crumb by interfering with gluten development and absorbing moisture, resulting in exceptionally moist banana bars. If you don’t have cornstarch on hand, you can certainly omit it, and your bars will still be delicious. However, for that extra touch of tenderness, it’s a game-changer.
• Choose Your Pan Wisely for Your Crowd: This recipe is incredibly versatile when it comes to pan sizes. For a thicker, more cake-like bar, I love baking these in a metal 9×13-inch pan. However, if you’re serving a larger group and need to stretch the recipe, you can easily bake this batter in a 13×18-inch rimmed jelly roll pan. This will result in a thinner, brownie-like bar that bakes faster (around 20-24 minutes) and yields more servings, perfect for parties and big family gatherings. Remember to adjust baking times accordingly.
• Customize with Delicious Mix-Ins: While these banana bars are fantastic on their own, adding mix-ins can elevate them further. Consider folding in a cup of chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark), chopped walnuts or pecans for a nutty crunch, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for an extra layer of warmth. These additions provide delightful bursts of flavor and texture with every bite.

Creative Decoration Ideas for Your Frosted Banana Bars

Elevate the visual appeal of your frosted banana bars with these simple yet effective decoration ideas. A little extra touch can make them even more special for any occasion!

• Seasonal Sprinkles: Make your banana bars festive for any holiday or celebration by topping them with colorful sprinkles! Think red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or themed sprinkles for birthdays. This is a fun and easy way to add a pop of color and joy.
• A Hint of Spice: For an extra layer of warmth and sophistication, lightly sprinkle a touch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg directly onto the cream cheese frosting before serving. This subtle spice complements the banana flavor beautifully and adds an inviting aroma.
• Shaved Chocolate Elegance: For chocolate lovers, a scattering of finely shaved dark chocolate on top of the frosting adds a touch of gourmet elegance and a delightful textural contrast. The slight bitterness of dark chocolate pairs wonderfully with the sweet frosting and banana.
• Candied Pecans or Walnuts: For a delightful crunch and nutty flavor, sprinkle some candied pecans or walnuts over the frosted bars. You can quickly candy them yourself by toasting nuts with a sprinkle of sugar and a pinch of salt.
• Fresh Banana Slices: For a fresh, vibrant look, top individual squares with a thin slice of fresh banana just before serving. A tiny drizzle of caramel sauce could make this even more decadent.

When stored properly, banana cake or bars will last a maximum of five days. If unfrosted, they can be stored tightly covered at room temperature. However, if your banana bars are topped with cream cheese frosting, they must be refrigerated in an airtight container. Always ensure your banana bars have been completely cooled to room temperature before covering them; this crucial step prevents condensation from forming and potentially ruining the perfect texture and appearance of the icing on your delicious treat!

A banana is perfectly ripe for baking when its skin is soft to the touch and covered in numerous brown speckles. While a fully black banana might be a bit too far gone for some, the more brown spots, the sweeter and more flavorful the banana will be, making it ideal for incorporating into this moist banana bar recipe. Avoid firm, yellow bananas without spots, as they won’t provide the necessary sweetness or texture.

To make these delicious banana bars gluten-free, simply substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend. Many excellent gluten-free all-purpose blends are available on the market, or you can use your own custom blend. We highly recommend sifting your gluten-free flour before measuring to prevent any clumps from forming in the batter and to ensure a smoother, lighter cake. Additionally, when mixing your dry ingredients into the wet mixture, be particularly careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough or crumbly gluten-free baked goods. Mix just until combined for the best results!

If you’re eager to bake but your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough, here are a few quick ripening methods:

1. Brown Paper Bag Method: Place the unripe bananas in a brown paper bag, fold it closed, and store it at room temperature. The bag traps ethylene gas, a natural plant hormone released by bananas, which significantly speeds up the ripening process. Adding an apple or a ripe banana to the bag can accelerate this even further.
2. Place with Apples or Ripe Fruits: Simply place your green or yellow bananas in a fruit bowl alongside other ripe fruits like apples, avocados, or tomatoes. These fruits also release ethylene gas, helping your bananas ripen faster naturally.
3. Oven Ripening (Quickest Method): For immediate results, place the unripe bananas (still in their skins) in a single layer on a rimmed metal baking pan. Bake them in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (95°C) for approximately 15-30 minutes. The skins will turn completely black, but don’t worry! Inside, the bananas will become soft and incredibly sweet, developing a strong, caramelized banana flavor perfect for baking. Let them cool before peeling and mashing.

The exceptional moistness of these banana bars comes from a combination of key ingredients and techniques. Firstly, using very ripe, mashed bananas provides a natural tenderness and intense flavor. Secondly, the addition of sour cream contributes a rich creaminess and moisture that prevents the bars from drying out. Lastly, the optional but highly recommended cornstarch helps to create a tender, soft crumb by inhibiting excess gluten development and retaining moisture, ensuring every bite is delightfully soft and moist.

The BEST Frosted Banana Bars

These super moist, frosted banana bars are the perfect dessert for any occasion! Bake in a 9×13 pan and top with smooth cream cheese frosting for the perfect dessert for a crowd!

Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the Banana Bars:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup sour cream (8oz tub)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (this makes them more moist, but if you don’t have it, you can leave it out)
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 ½ cups mashed bananas (about 2-3 large bananas)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon milk

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350℉ (175°C). Spray a metal 9×13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray and lightly dust with all-purpose flour (or cover in parchment paper). See notes below for baking in a jelly roll pan.

2. In a small mixing bowl, mash the bananas (1 ½ cups, or 2-3 large bananas) with a fork until mostly broken up. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter (½ cup, i.e., 1 stick), granulated sugar (1 cup), and light brown sugar (½ cup) until smooth (about 1 minute). While the mixer is on low speed, add in the eggs (2 large), sour cream (¾ cup), vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), baking soda (1 teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon). Add cornstarch (1 tablespoon) and all-purpose flour (2 ½ cups) and mix just until combined. Lastly, gently mix in the mashed bananas (1 ½ cups) until incorporated; be careful not to overmix.

4. Pour the batter into the greased 9×13 inch pan and bake at 350℉ for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The top should be slightly golden brown, as shown in the photo above. Allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

Frosting:

5. Note: If you’re using a 9×13 inch pan, this recipe makes a generous, THICK layer of cream cheese frosting. If you prefer less frosting, you can easily cut this frosting recipe in half. However, if you are baking the bars in a larger 13×18 inch jelly roll pan, we highly suggest making the full amount of frosting to ensure good coverage.

   To Make the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese (8 ounces), unsalted butter (½ cup, i.e., 1 stick), vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), and milk (1 teaspoon) on medium speed until well combined and smooth. Slowly add in the powdered sugar (3 ½ cups) and beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy (this typically takes about 1-2 minutes). If the frosting appears too thick, add a tiny bit more milk, half a teaspoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.

   Spread the prepared frosting generously onto the completely cooled banana bars and then cut them into 24 squares. To help the frosting firm up and set, you can place the frosted bars in the refrigerator for a short period.

6. Cover the frosted bars and store them in the fridge for 3-4 days to maintain freshness.

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Video

Watch our step-by-step video guide to see exactly how to make these super moist frosted banana bars!

Notes

Storing: Cover the frosted banana bars and store them in the fridge for 3-4 days. For the best taste and texture, allow them to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving.

Pan Size: If baking in a larger 13×18″ rimmed jelly roll pan, your baking time will be shorter. Bake closer to 20-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Keep an eye on them, as thinner bars bake faster!

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