Shelly's Recipe

* FROSTED BANANA BARS*

Category: Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream or vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 (16 ounce) container cream cheese frosting
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; stir into the batter. Finally, mix in the mashed banana. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bars to cool completely before frosting with the cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with nuts.

NOTE: I make my own frosting. These are the two that I like to use: Cream Cheese Frosting: cream together 1 pkg cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter and 2 tsp vanilla extract. Gradually beating in 4 cups confectioners sugar to desired consistency.

Chocolate Peanut Butter frosting made of 2 cups confectioners sugar, 2 tbsp cocoa, 4 tbsp milk, 2 tbsp peanut butter, and 1/2 tsp vanilla. (I don’t sprinkle with nuts when I use this frosting.)