Banana Bread Cheesecake Bars

Banana Bread Cheesecake Bars is the best of two worlds - Banana bread and cheesecake with a chocolate topping.

When you need a dessert recipe that is easy to make but is extra special a three layer dessert bar like this is perfect.

I don't know what I love more - homemade banana bread or cheesecake.

Every time I have a couple of overripe bananas sitting on the counter I think to myself..... I should make some banana bread.

Usually,  that's as far as it goes.

I'm being lazy and this time, I decided I wasn't going to waste those over ripe bananas.

Unfortunately, I throw a lot of over ripe bananas away and I don't like being wasteful.

This time, I decided I would make these Banana Bread Cheesecake Bars.

I love making dessert bars. They are so much fun.

You can make so many different kinds of dessert bars just by making a few changed to a recipe.

I've been making 3 layer dessert bars for awhile now. You might remember the Cheesecake Brownie Bars I shared a while ago.

Or the fun Cherry Cake Bars recipe I shared when I used homemade cherry marmalade for the filling oh la la they were so good!

That cherry marmalade was also used for this Cherry Slab Pie recipe.

If dessert bars aren't your thing you might like a cherry slab pie instead.

I just happened to have some cream cheese on hand and figured it would make a great filling for these Banana Bread Bars. 

Homemade cheesecake filling is easy to make and you only need a couple of ingredients to make it.

As long as you have 4 ounces of cream cheese on hand you probably have the rest of the ingredients in your pantry.

Ingredients

Make the cheesecake layer first before you make the banana bread batter.

Cheesecake Layer

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Banana Bread Layer

• 2 medium browned bananas
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ level cups of all purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

Chocolate Frosting

• 6 ounces milk chocolate chips

Directions

1. Prepare an 8×8 inch baking pan by covering the bottom with a piece of parchment paper leaving a slight overhanging. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth.
3. Add the butter, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat on high for two minutes and set aside.
4. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer beat the bananas for 1 minute.
5. Add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg. Beat for 2 minutes.
6. Add the flour, baking soda and baking powder, mix on low until just combined.
7. Pour banana cake batter into the prepared baking pan.
8. Drop the cheesecake filling by the tablespoon over the banana bread batter.
9. Drag the tip of a knife through the cheesecake filling to marble it into the banana cake batter.
10. Bake in a preheated 350 F. degree oven for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
11. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the hot cake.
12. Allow chocolate chips to melt for about 10 minutes. Once melted spread with a spatula over the top.
13. Allow cake to cool completely and the chocolate to harden before cutting.
14. Makes 9 servings.

More dessert recipes you'll love!

• Vintage Recipe Project Banana Cake
• How to Dehydrate Banana Chips
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
• Banana Cranberry Muffins
• Easy Banana Muffins

I bet this Banana Bar recipe would taste even better with a little peanut butter mixed into the cheesecake layer.

Can you guess how I will be making them next time?

More dessert bar recipes you'll love!

• Nutella Brownies
• Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
• Cheesecake Lemon Curd Bars
• Black Forest Brownie Bars