Banana Sour Cream Bars-12 Weeks of Christmas Treats

 

It is week 2 of 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats hosted by Brenda at Menu Planning Magic.  I felt a bit like Goldilocks this past week.  I wanted to post some new and different bar cookie recipes that, perhaps, were not already out there on the net.  Like Goldi's experience, none were "just right."  Here are my attempts, and why I am not posting them.

Back, left-a lemon marshmallow bar.  Very good flavor, but difficult to cut, and that topping cracked on most of the bars.  Back, right-a banana cherry bar.  The banana bar recipe I am posting has better flavor.  Front-date bars.  The topping was too dry, and crumbs kept shedding off.  Now the good part of all this is, my hubby and coworkers are happy.  They have been able to eat lots of sweets.   (If you really want the recipes for any of these, sent me an email.)

After all that, I chose to make and post an old reliable banana bar cookie recipe.  It is a nice change from having banana bread.  I like to include banana bars and other, not so common flavors, on holiday cookie plates.  It makes for a nice contrast.  The bars can be "fancied up" by adding a half cup each of chopped, toasted nuts and chopped red and/or green candied cherries.

If I am in a hurry to get butter softened, I will thinly slice it into a bowl.  That way it softens very quickly.  I posted a trick to quickly soften cream cheese that works very well.

Banana Sour Cream Bars
1/2 c. butter softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. sour cream, regular or low fat
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 large, very ripe bananas, mashed
1 (8 oz.) pkg. regular or low fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
3 1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar

Cream butter and sugar together until very fluffy.  Add eggs and beat well.  Stir in sour cream and vanilla.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir into creamed ingredients, mixing well.  Fold in mashed bananas.  Pour into a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.  Cool in pan on rack.  When cool, combine cream cheese and butter in an electric mixer bowl.  Beat with mixer until well blended and smooth.  Add vanilla and mix to combine.  Add sifted powdered sugar  and mix until well blended and of spreading consistency.  Spread over cooled cookies.  Cut into bars.  Store covered in the refrigerator.  Makes about 36 bars.

There is still time to join us and share some of the Christmas treats you are making.  You can find all the information for joining in the fun in this post at Menu Planning Magic

Linking to these great parties:
Show and Share Wednesday
What's Cookin' Wednesday
Cast Party Wednesday
Wake Up Wednesday
Whimsy Wednesday
Wow Me Wednesday at Gingersnap Crafts
Wow Me Wednesday at Polkadots on Parade
Fluster's Creative Muster


To see what other bloggers have posted this week, check out the links below.