Banana Bars

This recipe is a favorite with everyone and an easy way to use those ripe bananas!

Beat together with mixer until thick:

½ cup (1 stick) soft butter

1 cup granulated or brown sugar

2 eggs

Add:

2 ripe bananas – mashed

1/3 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 cup milk + 1 teaspoon lemon juice)

Add and mix until well blended but do not over beat:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon soda

½ teaspoon salt

Pour into greased and floured 13” x 9” cake pan.

Top with the following crumbly topping:

Mix together 3 Tablespoons soft butter

½ cup sugar

1/3 cup flour

¼ teaspoon nutmeg.

 Sprinkle on top of batter and bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes or until slightly brown on top and tests done.

Note: These bars are also good maple frosting in place of the topping - Frost after cooling

Maple Frosting:

3 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoons hot water

3 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring

For Maple frosting: Stir butter into hot water until melted then stir in powdered sugar and maple flavoring – mix by hand or with mixer until smooth and lumps are gone. This makes approximately 1 cup of frosting. If you need more, increase the butter and water to 1/4 cup each and add more powdered sugar and a few drops more maple flavoring. This frosting goes good on maple bars, spice cake, applesauce cake, boiled raisin cake, etc.