Description
These Banana Bars with Salted Caramel Frosting are ultra-moist, sweet, and slightly salty—perfect for using up ripe bananas or impressing guests with a crowd-pleasing dessert bar. The tender crumb and rich caramel topping make them a go-to recipe for holidays, potlucks, or any day you crave a cozy treat.
Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
½ cup unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
¼ cup heavy cream or milk
2 cups powdered sugar
½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
1. Cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, alternating with the sour cream or Greek yogurt.
5. Spread the batter evenly into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan.
6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely.
7. In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Let it bubble for 2 minutes.
8. Whisk in the cream and remove from heat. Let cool slightly.
9. Stir in the powdered sugar and sea salt until smooth and thick.
10. Spread the warm frosting over cooled banana bars. Let it set before slicing.
Notes
Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
Allow the frosting to cool slightly before spreading to prevent it from being too runny.
These bars taste even better the next day as the flavors meld together beautifully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: banana bars, salted caramel, banana dessert