Makeover Banana Bars

A banana recipe? What a shocker. These bars are aaaamazing! Use this recipe next time you have a few over-ripe bananas lying around.. you won't be sorry. I brought a few of these to the dental office I worked @ today and everyone loved them! They are really moist with a creamy, sweet cream cheese frosting. The recipe comes from the Healthy Cooking Taste of Home Magazine and is one we make often at my house. Whenever I bring these anywhere, I often get asked for the recipe. YUM
MAKES 3 DOZEN
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar (I used half sugar, half Splenda)
2 eggs (I used 1/2 c egg beaters)
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Dash salt
FROSTING:
**I made half of the frosting and it was plenty! What is below is the full batch**
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions:
1.In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the bananas, applesauce and vanilla.














2.Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into butter mixture just until blended.














3.Transfer to a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray.
4. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.














5.For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost bars. Refrigerate leftovers.