Banana Bars

This recipe is an oldie but goodie. I know you are probably thinking why not just make banana bread,which I love and my two older daughters might agree with you but my youngest, Scarlet and I think these bars are the sweetest and most fluffy banana tasting treat around.

I was going to the beach with a friend and I thought they are the perfect thing to take because they travel well and last a really long time and honestly, who doesn't love bananas, okay my ex husband doesn't, so all the more reason to make them especially after not being able to make them for so many years.


1/2 C unsalted butter
1 1/2  C sugar
2 eggs
2 C flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1C buttermilk
1 t vanilla
3 mashed ripe not rotten bananas
1/2 C nuts finely chopped (optional)

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Blend together flour, soda and salt. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in the vanilla and bananas. Pour into a 15x10 jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 for 25 min.

While the cake is baking make the icing.

Icing
1/4 C butter
1/2 C sugar
1/4 C milk
1 t vanilla
11/4 C powdered sugar
Melt butter in a pot on med heat. Add sugar and boil 2 min. (Slow boil). Add milk and stir until boils again. Add vanilla off heat. Cool a bit and then beat in the powdered sugar with a whisk till smooth. Pour icing over a warm cake and spread quickly. Add chopped nuts and press in a bit if you like.
When the cake cools cut into squares.