Banana Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars with Cream Cheese Glaze

Bananas are among our favorite fruits so we always have them at our house. I usually buy a dozen per week and most of the time, we are out of it in just 3 days. But there are times when we end up with a bunch of brown spotted bananas. Not wanting them to go to waste, I usually turn those overripe bananas into banana bread, banana cream pie shake and sometimes into banana chocolate cake, banana trifle or banana bars like these... 

They look pretty, don't they? Well, these Banana Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars aren't just pretty...they're also delicious and very easy to make! It's a cross between a chocolate chip cookie and banana bread with the added goodness of caramel. I'm sure you'll love them! And with the added Cream Cheese Glaze the banana bars will even be more wonderful!

The next time you have a bunch of overripe bananas in your fruit bowl, don't throw them and try this recipe instead! Overripe bananas may not be the best for eating out of hand, but when it comes to these baked treats, they couldn't be better! 



Ingredients:

For the bars:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup salted butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup caramel bits

For the cream cheese glaze:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp milk

Instructions:

For the bars:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 15x10-inch cookie sheet.

2. In a bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. Set aside. In another bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla extract, mashed bananas and egg until well combined. Gradually add flour mixture. Beat until well incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips and caramel bits. 

3. Spread batter into prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely in pan. Cut into squares.

For the cream cheese glaze:

In a bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well to combine. Add milk and continue beating until smooth. Spoon frosting into a piping bag and pipe over bars.