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banana bread bars - featured image

Ultra-Moist Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

  • Author: Elena
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x

Description

These ultra-moist banana bread bars are baked in a sheet pan for maximum ease and crust, topped with a rich, nutty brown butter frosting. A simple, forgiving recipe that uses ripe bananas for intense flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 large ripe bananas (about 450g peeled)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (for frosting)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • pinch of salt (for frosting)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the short ends, and lightly grease the parchment.
  2. In a large bowl, mash ripe bananas with a fork. Add melted butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract; whisk until well combined and glossy.
  3. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to the wet mixture. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined. Fold in nuts if using.
  4. Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  5. While bars bake, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Swirl occasionally until it foams, settles, and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma (5-7 minutes). Pour into a heatproof bowl and cool for 10 minutes.
  6. Whisk cooled brown butter, sifted powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add heavy cream gradually until a spreadable consistency is reached.
  7. Let bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Lift bars out using parchment handles and spread frosting evenly over the top.
  8. Slice into squares and serve at room temperature.

Notes

Use very ripe, spotted bananas for maximum sweetness and moisture. Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough bars. Ensure bars are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting. Brown butter requires close attention to prevent burning.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bar
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 30
  • Sodium: 250
  • Fat: 14
  • Saturated Fat: 8
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 3

Keywords: banana bread bars, brown butter frosting, sheet pan banana bread, easy banana bread, moist banana bread, party dessert, ripe banana recipe

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Find it online: https://plateku.com/ultra-moist-banana-bread-bars-best-easy-recipe/