Judy's Banana Bars

Mother gave me a Church Cookbook I have been enjoying from the Church I was raised in as a girl. This recipe looked good to me so I was inspired to put my twist on it today as my soup simmered away.

The cook book is Pitch-In From the Pews from Christ Lutheran Church in Noblesville, Indiana and this recipe comes from Rita Vokt who came by it from her late sister-in-law.

Ingredients for the bars:

1/2 C. butter softened to room temperature
1 1/2 C. sugar
2 eggs
1/2 C. buttermilk
1/4 C. sour cream
2 large mashed ripe bananas
2 C. flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
1 t. baking powder

Note:  You may substitute  3/4 C. buttermilk or sour milk for the sour cream and buttermilk.  Make sour milk by adding 1 teaspoon vinegar to 3/4 C. milk.

Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees F.  Butter and flour a 9" x 13" baking pan well and set it aside.  Cream butter, sugar, and eggs until fluffy and add buttermilk and sour cream.  Blend in the mashed banana, salt, vanilla, and baking powder.  Add the flour mixing just until all of the ingredients are well blended.  Do not over mix.  Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.  Cool and then prepare frosting.


Frosting:

1 C. granulated sugar
1/2 C. butter
1/4 C. milk
1 1/2 C. powdered sugar

 Boil sugar, butter, and milk for 1 minute at a full boil stirring constantly.  Cool for a bit, about 2-3 minutes.  Add the powdered sugar and beat well.  Spread over the bars and watch them disappear!!  This frosting firms up so you will want to get it spread onto the bars quickly.

This is sort of like a banana brownie that is a little cake like only better.  Wondering how a few droplets of banana flavoring would be in the frosting ??