I have a new dessert recipe to share today – Greek Yogurt Banana Bars with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting. These bars contain Greek yogurt and whole wheat flour, and a banana chip topping for extra crunch.
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My husband and I have a “day of the week” banana guideline. It’s a way to rate bananas based on how ripe they are throughout the week. If you start with green bananas on Sunday, by Saturday they might look like the above {perfect for banana bars}! My preferred “banana day” is Wednesday. A Wednesday banana is perfectly yellow, without any green left and no brown spots. I usually eat a banana in my morning smoothie, so it doesn’t matter that much… but it’s a fun way to discuss bananas. We’re food nerds.
I made these Greek Yogurt Banana Bars in a baking half sheet similar to this. You can also use a jelly roll baking sheet, for slightly thicker bars.
Since these are banana bars instead of banana bread, they require a much shorter baking time – only 25 minutes. Instead of nuts, I topped these bars with chopped banana chips, processed in my blender a few times. Using banana chips added a nice crunch to each bar, and lots of extra banana flavor.
Greek Yogurt Banana Bars
A crowd-pleasing banana bar recipe made with Greek yogurt.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 1/8 cups Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup butter {softened}
- 3 ripe bananas {mashed}
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
Frosting
- 1 packaged cream cheese {softened}
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp butter {softened}
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- 1/2 cup banana chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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Mix sugar, yogurt, butter, and bananas in a mixer on low-medium speed, until combined.
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In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixer, mixing only until combined. Add vanilla extract.
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Bake for ~25 minutes until the bars are light brown, and a toothpick comes out clean.
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Let the bars cool before frosting.
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To make the frosting, whisk softened butter and cream cheese with powdered sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Remember to refrigerate since the bars contain cream cheese!
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To make the topping, process banana chips in a blender or food processor for ~5 seconds.
{Recipe adapted from Sour Cream Banana Bars. Frosting recipe adapted from Martha Stewart’s Maple Cream Cheese Frosting.}
I’m Celia. I live in the Chicago area. I'm a mama of two, runner, business owner and former Iowan. My blog includes recipes, fitness and travel posts, and stories about Chicago.
I sure do wish I had these for breakfast! They look amazing!
These bars sound amazing! I love using Greek yogurt in baked goods, and your frosting?! Yes, please!