SANDRA'S HOMEMADE APPLE-BANANA-CRAN BARS with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Very moist and flavorful homemade bars,
with a distinct hint of banana, apple and cinnamon,
including the pop here and there of delicious craisins... 


Yields (32 bars)
Prep: 10 Mins.
Bake: 20 Mins.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon double-acting baking powder (or regular)
1/4 teaspoon fine-grain kosher salt
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (1 medium banana)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup craisins, roughly chopped
--Cream cheese frosting (recipe below)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 10x15" baking sheet with parchment paper, and spray top; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, then stir in sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter. Finally, mix in the mashed banana, applesauce, and chopped craisins.

Pour and spread batter onto prepared baking sheet, then gently shake side-to-side and tap baking sheet to distribute batter evenly. Bake for 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Allow bars to cool completely for 30 minutes in pan place atop a baking rack.  Place baking rack on top and flip over to remove parchment paper.  Place baking sheet atop, then re-flip over to cool completely in baking sheet before frosting, then cut into 32 squares. ~ Enjoy!

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING (Yields 2 Cups)

Prep: 5 Mins.

1 (8 oz. pkg.) of cream cheese, at room temperature
� cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups of confectioners� sugar (sift through a sieve to prevent a lumpy frosting)
1 tablespoon milk (adding more or less, depending on your desired consistency)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, with a hand mixer cream together the cream cheese and butter, and mix in vanilla. Gradually stir in (with a spoon) the milk, and then the confectioner� sugar; mixing until smooth.


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