Banana Bars

You know how you go to a shower and there is that one food item that imprints itself on your brain and you HAVE to have the recipe?  Well...my mom tasted these ethereal treats made by the one and only Lori Pearce and then again by the one and only Lorna Cox and she was hooked.  My mom then took them to a shower, where I got to sample them, and, well, they became that imprinted food for me.  They were AMAZING.  She had told me about them before, but she'd never actually made them.  It is a recipe from a friend of her's who just happens to be an incredible cook.  Some of my favorite recipes come from her...her name is Lori Pierce and her food is pretty much to die for.  Anyway...after trying this recipe with white flour, I just knew it could be transferred into a 100% whole wheat recipe and sure enough...it worked!  So, now fast-forward to yesterday.  My daughter had some friends over and I pulled out my banana bars and guess what one of those dear sweet girls told me.  She said everyone is jealous of my daughter's lunches because she always has really good food...like BANANA BARS!  Talk about making my heart swell!  Thanks Brinley...you made my year!!!  Without further ado...I give you the one and only Banana Bars...




Banana Bars

1 1/2 C sugar

1/2 C butter, softened

Cream sugar and butter

Add:
3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 C mashed banana

2 C finely, freshly ground whole wheat flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

Mix on high speed for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes.  Spread evenly on greased baking sheet or 2 - 13X9 pans or two 9X9's.  Bake 20-25 minutes until bars are light brown on top.  Cool.  Either cut into bars immediately and frost each bar with cream cheese frosting OR freeze cake for a few days, thaw and then cut into bars and frost.  Yep, you can really make this fabulous dessert ahead of time and freeze it!  Perfect for events that are time-crunched!

Frosting:

Cream cheese frosting

1/2 C butter

8 oz. cream cheese

4 C powdered sugar

2 tsp. vanilla