Banana Bread Bars with Browned Butter Frosting

Like banana bread?  Then you'll LOVE these banana bread bars.  They are moist and yummy and the frosting is just delicious.  I feel I need to apologize for giving you this recipe.  These bars are addictive.

Banana Bread Bars

Cream together:

1/2 cup butter, very soft 

1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups sugar

Add:

2 eggs

Beat until creamy and smooth.  Add:

*About 2 cups mashed banana ( 3-4 ripe bananas)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix well.  Turn off the mixer and add:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

Turn on the mixer and mix for about a minute.  Stir in:

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Spread into a well greased jelly roll pan(sided cookie sheet.)  Bake at 375 for about 20- 25 minutes or until they're just pulling away from the edges of the pan.

While the bars are baking, make the frosting:

Browned Butter Frosting

In a large saucepan, over medium heat, melt:

1/2 cup butter

Cook and stir until the butter turns brown.  Brown will start to come up from the bottom of the pan and it will smell really buttery and nutty.  Watch carefully as you don't want it to burn.  When golden brown remove from heat and add:

4 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

About 3 Tablespoons milk

Beat together until smooth and silky. It shouldn't be too thick like a set frosting, but more like a thick glaze.   

When the bars are done, let cool a minute or two, then put the frosting on.  The easiest way is put dabs all over the top and then gently spread with a spatula.  

*When bananas get too ripe, I break them in half and put them in a quart freezer zip lock bag.  I keep them in the freezer and add to the bag as I get more.  When I have enough, I make these bars (or banana bread, banana cake, smoothies, etc.)  Just let them thaw a bit( you can even thaw them in the microwave) and then while the bag is still closed, mash them right in the bag.  Then you can cut a corner off the bag and squeeze the banana mash right into the measuring cup.