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Banana Bars with brown butter frosting that has a bite taken out.

Banana Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

Krista Stechman
These moist banana bars are a tasty treat the whole family will love with tons of banana flavor and a rich brown butter frosting
5 from 10 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course dessert
Cuisine american
Servings 9 people
Calories 781 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large and medium mixing bowls
  • 1 8x8 inch metal baking pans
  • 1 whisk
  • 1 rubber spatula
  • 1 parchment paper

Ingredients
  

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsalted butter melted then cooled slightly
  • 1¾ cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs room temp
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoon rum extract
  • 1 cup mashed banana overripe

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ tsp baking powder

Brown Butter Frosting

  • 1 cup brown butter cooled
  • 2 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt

Toppings (OPTIONAL)

  • ¼ tsp flaky sea salt on top of the frosted banana bars
  • 1 banana sliced, placed on top of frosted banana bars

Instructions
 

Mixing the Wet Ingredients

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F then spray an 8x8 inch pan with non stick cooking spray, line it with parchment paper and spray the parchment paper with non stick spray
  • Whisk the melted butter and brown sugar together until smooth in a large bowl
    melted butter and sugar mixed together
  • Stir in the eggs one at a time
  • Add the vanilla and rum extracts then stir in the mashed banana and set aside
    rum, vanilla and bananas mixed in

Mixing the Dry Ingredients

  • Whisk the flour, salt and baking powder together in a medium bowl
    dry ingredients mixed together
  • Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. Do not over mix. A few streaks of flour are fine
    wet ingredients mixed together with the dry
  • Pour the batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean or with only a few crumbs
    batter in a pan
  • Allow the banana bars to cool completely on a wire rack
    baked banana bars

Making the Brown Butter Frosting

  • While the banana bars are cooking, add the cooled brown butter and sifted powdered sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
  • Mix on low until combined then turn up to medium for 1 minute
  • Add the vanilla, milk and salt. Mix on low until combined then mix on medium - high for 4 minutes until light and fluffy
  • Once banana bars are cooled then spread the frosting over the top and serve
    banana bars topped with brown butter frosting
  • Top with flaky sea salt or sliced banana if you like

Notes

See section titled "How to Brown Butter" in blog post above if you're unsure how to brown butter.
Wait until banana bars are FULLY cooled before topping with frosting. Otherwise, frosting will melt. 
Only top the banana bars with sliced banana if eating immediately. Otherwise the banana will get brown and slimy

Nutrition

Calories: 781kcalCarbohydrates: 99gProtein: 5gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 316mgPotassium: 253mgFiber: 2gSugar: 73gVitamin A: 1340IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 2mg
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