Ingredients You’ll Need
Banana Bars
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream or yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3–4 very ripe bananas (mashed)
Brown Sugar Glaze
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup milk or cream
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
## The Secret to Super Moist Bars
Here’s what makes them insanely soft:
✔ Very ripe bananas
✔ Sour cream or yogurt
✔ Don’t overmix
✔ Bake gently
✔ Frost while warm
These steps guarantee:
Soft center
No dryness
Perfect crumb
Basically bakery quality at home.
## Step 1 – Prep the Pan
Preheat oven:
175°C / 350°F
Grease a 9×13 inch pan or line with parchment.
Bars bake better in a wide pan.
Thinner = softer texture.
Plus easier slicing.
## Step 2 – Mix Dry Ingredients
In bowl combine:
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
Whisk well.
Set aside.
This keeps everything evenly mixed.
## Step 3 – Cream Butter & Sugar
In large bowl beat:
- Butter
- Sugar
Until light and fluffy.
About 2–3 minutes.
This step adds air = soft cake texture.
Don’t skip.
## Step 4 – Add Wet Ingredients
Add:
- Eggs
- Sour cream
- Vanilla
- Mashed bananas
Mix until smooth.
Smells like banana heaven already 🍌
Sour cream makes the bars:
Extra tender
Extra moist
Almost melt-in-mouth
Total game changer.
## Step 5 – Combine Gently
Add dry ingredients slowly.
Mix just until combined.
Stop immediately.
Overmixing = tough cake.
Gentle mixing = fluffy bars.
Little lumps are fine.
## Step 6 – Bake
Pour batter into pan.
Spread evenly.
Bake:
25–30 minutes
Until:
Golden edges
Soft center
Toothpick clean
Don’t overbake.
Slightly underbaked = extra moist (perfect).
Kitchen smell will be insane right now.
Warm banana + butter + sugar vibes.
Pure comfort.
## Step 7 – Make the Brown Sugar Glaze
While bars bake, make glaze.
In saucepan melt:
Butter + brown sugar + milk
Simmer 2 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Whisk in powdered sugar + vanilla.
It becomes:
Smooth
Glossy
Caramel-colored
Buttery
Basically liquid gold.
## Step 8 – Frost While Warm
Pour glaze over warm bars.
Spread evenly.
Important:
Warm cake helps glaze soak slightly inside.
This makes bars ultra moist and flavorful.
Let cool 20–30 minutes to set.
Glaze thickens beautifully.
## Texture & Taste Breakdown
Let’s talk bite:
Top → creamy caramel glaze
Inside → super soft banana cake
Flavor → sweet, buttery, rich banana
Not heavy. Not dry.
Just soft, cozy dessert heaven.
Dangerously snackable.
You’ll keep cutting “one more square” 😂
## Flavor Variations You Can Try
So many fun twists:
Chocolate Chip
Add chocolate chips
Walnut
Add chopped walnuts
Cinnamon Swirl
Add cinnamon sugar layer
Cream Cheese Frosting
Replace glaze with cream cheese icing
Peanut Butter
Swirl peanut butter inside
Coconut
Add shredded coconut
Same base. Endless ideas.
## Pro Baking Tips
Tip 1
Use VERY ripe bananas
Tip 2
Don’t overmix
Tip 3
Frost warm cake
Tip 4
Cut after fully cooled
Tip 5
Store covered to keep moist
Small details = perfect bars.
## Storage Tips
Room temp:
3 days covered
Fridge:
Up to 1 week
Freezer:
2 months (slice first)
They stay moist for days.
Actually taste better next day.
Perfect for meal prep snacks.
## When to Serve These
Perfect for:
- Coffee time
- Dessert
- School snacks
- Parties
- Potlucks
- Family gatherings
- Anytime you have overripe bananas
Basically banana bread’s cooler cousin 😄
## Final Thoughts
These banana bars with brown sugar glaze are one of those recipes you make once…