Banana Squares

These bar cookies are so easy to make.  They are delicious and easy to take along to a potluck or on a picnic. Instead of baking banana bread, try a batch of bar cookies instead. 

Ingredients

1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. soda
dash of salt
2 1/2 c. flour
4 Tbs. buttermilk
4 large ripe bananas

Filling

1 c. brown sugar
1 can flaked coconut or 1 cup of bagged coconut
1 stick butter, softened
4 tsp. evaporated milk

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 325°.  Grease three 11 x 7 1/4-ingh pans. If you don't have this size pan, use two 9 x 9-inch pans and one 8 x 8-inch pan. You can also use three 9-inch pans, but the bars will be thinner and may not take as long to bake. 

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour in vanilla and mix in.

In another bowl, mix soda, and a dash of salt and flour.

Alternately, mix in about a half cup of flour and 1 tablespoon buttermilk. Repeat until the flour and buttermilk are mixed into the creamed mixture. 

Add bananas. Mix thoroughly. Pour into prepared pans.  

Bake for 30 minutes. Make the filling while the cookie dough is baking.

Mix the brown sugar, flaked coconut, butter and evaporated milk together.

In a mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, flaked coconut, butter and evaporated milk. Spread over hot baked mixture.  Bake for 7 minutes longer and cut into squares.