Banana Bars with Toasted Frosting

Chris really liked these!
Makes 48 bars

Bars:
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
2 eggs
2 large (1 cup) ripe bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon maple syrup (optional)
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted OR
2/3 cup toasted coconut

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream together butter, sugars, sour cream (or yogurt) and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add bananas and vanilla and mix well. Add remaining bar ingredients and beat until well mixed.

Spread batter in a greased (10"x15") jelly roll pan. The Pampered Chef bar pan is perfect.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

For frosting, melt the butter in a 1 quart pot over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring constantly until butter just starts to golden (5-6 minutes). Butter will bubble and foam. Remove from heat and cool.

Combine cooled toasted butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, vanilla, and maple syrup in a small bowl. Beat until smooth.

Spread frosting over bars. Sprinkle with pecans or coconut. Cut into bars.

I couldn't find my coconut, so the bars are plain with the frosting in the photo. =)

Banana Mini Morsel Bars

This is a great recipe to use when the bananas get very ripe.
Makes 6 dozen bars

2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar or Florida crystals
2/3 packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 very ripe medium bananas
1 large egg
1 cup (half of a 12-oz package) mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 15 by 10 inch jelly roll pan.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Add vanilla, egg, and bananas, beating well after each addition. Add salt and baking powder and mix well. Slowly add flour, and mix thoroughly. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread into pan.

Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan and cut into bars.