Banana-Nut Bars

Is your fruit supply filled with ripped bananas that no one will eat? In that case, I’ve got a delicious recipe you have to try! These banana nut bars are a great snack to make for your family. Why ripe bananas you may ask? At this stage, they have a boosted flavor, not to mention the sweetness level goes up. You’ll know a banana is ripe when it has an increased number of brown spots and is very soft. This ultimately means that they are ready to bake a delicious snack, at least in Kathey Jo’s Kitchen it does.

These bars are not your usual chewy bar, they are fluffy and moist. The banana nut bars are super flavorful, with the perfect crunch of chopped nuts. What sets these banana nut bars apart is the cream cheese frosting it’s topped with! It’s the perfect combination we did not know we needed! A trick for a smooth cream cheese frosting is to use softened cream cheese and butter. Often times, if you don’t soften it, the frosting will end up clumpy, and we do not want that. If you find that your frosting is too thick, have some milk handy and add in a tablespoon at a time until it’s smooth. It’s such an adventurous bar, big on flavors! The ground cinnamon brings the perfect amount of warmth to the bar, you won’t put it down until it’s all done!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup mashed very ripe bananas (2 medium)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• Cream Cheese Frosting — (recipe follows)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 1 (6 ounce) package cream cheese – softened
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine — softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• If too thick add by tablespoon * milk to help smooth out

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease rectangular pan, 13 × 9 × 2 inches.
3. Mix sugar, bananas, oil and eggs in large bowl with spoon.
4. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
5. Stir in nuts.
6. Spread batter in pan.
7. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Cool completely.
9. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.
10. Cut into 6 row by 4 rows.
11. Store covered in refrigerator.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

12. Mix cream cheese, butter and vanilla in medium bowl.
13. Gradually beat in powdered sugar with spoon until smooth and spreadable.