BANANA BARS

1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup regular or light sour cream
2 eggs
3 ripe medium bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting (below)
Chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 10- by 15-inch jelly-roll pan or rimmed baking sheet.

In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, brown sugar, sour cream and eggs; beat with an electric mixer until well-combined.

Add bananas and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; beat until combined. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Sprinkle with walnuts, if desired. Cut into bars.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

2 packages (3-ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and butter. Beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioner's sugar. Add vanilla; beat until combined.

Makes 48 bars
From: Cynthia O'Connor O'Hara, author of The Harried Housewife's Cookbook
Source: Utica Observer-Dispatch