Banana Bars

I've had a couple of bunches of bananas hanging around on my countertop for over a week. It's become pretty obvious that no one here is going to eat them as they are now soft and brown and kind of scary looking so I needed a new plan. I made banana bread with some of them but I still had 3 that I didn't have the heart to throw away.

So, since we were asked to take a dessert to Grandma's today I made banana bars with cream cheese frosting. Ok, in all honesty putting them in "bar" form is an excuse to get a larger frosting to cake ratio in every bite, but they are yummy all the same.

Banana Bars

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup banana
3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

1. Grease and lightly flour two 8x1-1/2-inch or 9x1-1/2-inch round baking pans or grease one 13x9x2-inch baking pan or jelly roll pan. set pan(s) aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add bananas, buttermilk or sour milk, shortening, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Add eggs; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into the prepared pan(s).

3. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes for round pans or about 35 minutes for 13x9-inch pan, or 28 min for jelly roll pan or till a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool layer cakes in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove layer cakes from pans. Cool thoroughly on racks (see tip, page 000). Or, place 13x9-inch cake in pan on a wire rack; cool thoroughly. Frost with desired frosting. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Servings: 24

Nutrition Facts:
Calories 144.7; Total Fat 4.89g; Total Carbohydrates 23.37g; Fiber 0.48g; Protein 2.06g

*Note: If you don't have buttermilk on hand, substitute sour milk in the same amount. For the 3/4 cup of sour milk needed, place 2-1/4 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 3/4 cup total liquid; stir. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes before using it in a recipe.