Ooey Gooey Banana Bars are sweet and moist dessert bars that are loaded with bananas and frosted with homemade salted caramel buttercream. Although these bars would be delicious on their own, the frosting puts this dessert over the top! If you love desserts with bananas, or just need a great recipe to use up ripe bananas, be sure to also try my Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Butter: Use unsalted butter for both the bars and the salted caramel buttercream.
Brown Sugar: These bars are rich dessert bars that are made with brown sugar to give them that extra sweetness.
Bananas: Mash a couple of bananas to use in the bars. You need about 2/3 cup of mashed bananas.
Caramel Sauce: Skip the store-bought caramel sauce and make your own to use in the salted caramel buttercream!
Can These Bars be Gluten-Free?
I stress this often, that I am not a gluten-free specific baker. However, a few readers have mentioned that this recipe works very with a high-quality gluten-free replacement.
Storing & Freezing Ooey Gooey Banana Bars
This cake is best served fresh! However, you can store it in an airtight container (or covered with plastic wrap) in the refrigerator. You can also freeze this cake, however, I do recommend waiting to frost the cake until after thawing.
Can I Make the Bars Without the Frosting?
Yes, of course. However, the salted caramel buttercream truly is magical on these bars and I do hope you’ll give it a chance!
More Delicious Bars
Ooey Gooey Banana Bars
Ingredients
Banana Bars
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 cups (400 g) brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed, some chunks are okay (about ⅔ cup)
Salted Caramel Buttercream
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups (250 g) confectioners' sugar, sifted
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup (82 g) caramel topping
- 1 ½ teaspoons whole milk, as needed
Instructions
Banana Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, combine the butter and brown sugar.
- On low speed, add the vanilla and mix until incorporated.
- Add the eggs, mixing on low until incorporated.
- Add the flour and the salt, mixing well.
- Fold in the mashed bananas.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes, or until the center is set.
- Let the bars cool as you prepare the buttercream frosting.
Salted Caramel Buttercream
- Combine the butter, sugar, salt, and caramel topping in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Start mixing on low speed until the sugar is incorporated with the butter.
- Increase the mixing speed to high and beat until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Adjust the consistency with milk as needed.
- Frost the banana bars with the buttercream after they have cooled completely.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
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These were easy enough to make. The frosting was delicious and I added an extra spoonful of caramel just because! It was really good. My hubs thought next time use chocolate chips in the mix so I sprinkled some mini chips on his and he loved it. Thanks for the change from always using bananas in bread. We will definitely enjoy these yummy bars again!
These were easy enough to make. The frosting was delicious and I added an extra spoonful of caramel just because! It was really good. My hubs thought next time use chocolate chips in the mix so I sprinkled some mini chips on his and he loved it. Thanks for the change from always using bananas in bread. We will definitely enjoy these yummy bars again! Oh and I only used one teaspoon of 1% milk in the frosting. Delicious!
The recipes I have made -posted by you – have been absolutely excellent! 🎉✅ Yesterday I made the ooey gooey banana bars and they did not turn out ooey gooey at all. The base was really quite dry. I am not sure if it should have been made in a smaller pan – there wasn’t any call for baking soda/powder to add. Suggestions?
Thank you!
This was incredible… I took it over to a friend’s home for dinner last night and it was a hit! Can’t wait to try some more recipes! Thank you!
So good. Made for my sister but I had to try too.
Hi made these twice alre and they taste incredible but mine are not gooey… What am I doing wrong? Even baked them 5min less as I use a fan oven. Help x
Amanda, I just put the banana bars in the oven and they smell great! I have a question about Kosher salt. Mine is labeled coarse. Does it come in a fine grind or do I use it as is?
Can you use bananas that have been frozen?
Hi, Shara! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Yes, you can use bananas that have been frozen. Just let them come to room temperature before using them in the recipe. Have a great day!
The banana bars are delicious!! I tweeked the recipe to make it gluten free and it came out yum!
..Only thing I’m having issues with is the frosting, I’ve followed the ingredients and method to a T and it’s just too runny. It won’t hold itself on a cake. Help! 🙂
Hi Lizzie! You can use less liquid or more sugar to reach your desired consisntecy. 🙂
Hi can I use 2% milk. I dont have whole milk.
Yes. 🙂