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Banana Bread Bars

One Bowl Banana Bread Bars Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 172
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp fine sea salt
  • 3 medium very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ¼ cups)
  • ⅓ cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
  • 2 to 3 tsp whole milk or heavy cream
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch metal baking pan with parchment. In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mash the bananas and stir them in.
  2. Sprinkle the flour, baking soda, and salt over the top. Fold gently with a spatula until no dry streaks remain.
  3. Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth it into an even layer, pushing into the corners first.
  4. Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then lift out to cool completely.
  5. For the glaze, whisk cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, 2 tsp milk, and vanilla, whisk until thick and drizzly. Add more milk if needed. Spread over cooled bars and slice into 16 squares.

Notes

Cream cheese glaze is optional; the bars are tender and sweet on their own. For the cleanest slices, chill the glazed bars for 20 minutes first, then use a sharp knife wiped between cuts.