Description
These Brown Butter Frosted Banana Bread Bars are soft, moist, and packed with rich, nutty flavor from brown butter. Finished with a silky frosting that melts into the warm bars, they make the perfect treat for sharing or indulging at home.
Ingredients
- Banana Bread Bars:
- 1/2 cup (110g) unsalted butter, browned
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (105g) light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup (250g) sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups (385g) ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 cups (265g) all-purpose flour
- Brown Butter Frosting:
- 3/4 cup (170g) unsalted butter, browned
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, chilled
- 3 cups (300g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (60g) milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 11×15 jelly roll pan.
- Brown the butter for both the bars and frosting (total 1 1/4 cups). Pour 1/2 cup into a bowl for the banana bars. Place the remaining brown butter into another bowl and stir in the 2 tbsp chilled butter. Refrigerate until solid for frosting.
- In the banana bar bowl, whisk in the granulated and brown sugars. Add eggs and mix well.
- Stir in sour cream, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract.
- Add baking soda and salt, then fold in flour just until combined.
- Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and bake for 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While bars cool slightly, beat the solidified brown butter for frosting until creamy. Gradually mix in powdered sugar, then add vanilla and milk until smooth and spreadable.
- Spread frosting over warm bars. Let cool for about 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use a light-colored pan to better monitor browning of the butter.
- Bars can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen.
- Greek yogurt may be used instead of sour cream.
- Add cinnamon or nutmeg for extra warmth and depth.
- Let bars cool completely before slicing for clean edges.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
