Banana Nut Bars With Cream Cheese Icing
Banana Nut Bars are an easy and delicious dessert to make if you're a fan of bananas, nuts, and cream cheese icing. It is a combination of moist, sweet and nutty flavours with a creamy and tangy icing that melts in your mouth. This dessert is a perfect choice for any occasion, whether it's a family gathering or a weekend party with friends.
Ingredients
Before you start making your Banana Nut Bars, you need to gather all the necessary ingredients. Here's what you need:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- For the cream cheese icing:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Make sure you have all the ingredients ready before you start baking.
Instructions
Here's how to make Banana Nut Bars with Cream Cheese Icing:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.
- Stir in the mashed bananas and chopped nuts, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean.
- While the bars are baking, make the cream cheese icing. In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until creamy and smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Once the bars are done baking, let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing them from the pan and placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the bars are completely cool, spread the cream cheese icing over the top of them.
- Cut the bars into squares and serve.
Enjoy your delicious Banana Nut Bars with Cream Cheese Icing!
Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make perfect Banana Nut Bars:
- Make sure your butter and cream cheese are softened before using.
- Use ripe bananas for the best flavor and texture.
- When adding the nuts to the batter, stir them in gently to avoid overmixing.
- Let the bars cool completely before icing them. This will prevent the icing from melting and sliding off the bars.
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Conclusion
Banana Nut Bars with Cream Cheese Icing is a delicious dessert that's easy to make and perfect for any occasion. With its moist, nutty, and sweet flavor, it's sure to be a crowd favorite. So next time you want to impress your family and friends with a homemade dessert, give this recipe a try!
