Brown Butter Frosted Banana Bars
We’re taking that beloved banana bread and turning it into something truly special with these Brown Butter Frosted Banana Bread Bars, inspired by the incredible Jenna Barnard from @butternutbakery!
This isn’t your grandma’s banana bread—this is better. Imagine a super moist, tender banana bread, but in bar form, making it perfect for sharing. The secret? We’re using nutty, rich brown butter in both the bread and the decadent frosting. That deep, caramel-like flavor elevates this from a simple snack into a truly unforgettable dessert. Each bite is a perfect balance of soft, cake-like texture and sweet, luscious frosting.
These bars are a fantastic way to use up those overripe bananas and are guaranteed to be a hit with everyone. They’re perfect for a bake sale, a potluck, or simply to make a regular Tuesday feel a little more gourmet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour total
- Yield: 24 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
Banana Bread Bars
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cup ripe bananas, mashed (3-4 ripe bananas)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 cups flour
Brown Butter Frosting
- 3/4 cup butter (+2 Tbsp chilled butter)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup milk, room temperature
Instructions
Part 1: Brown the Butter
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Brown the Butter: In a medium saucepan or skillet over medium heat, melt 1¼ cups of butter. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the butter turns from foamy to a light amber color and smells nutty. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
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Divide the Butter: Carefully pour ½ cup of the browned butter into a separate mixing bowl to be used for the banana bread batter. Pour the remaining browned butter (about ¾ cup) into another mixing bowl and mix in the additional 2 tablespoons of cold butter until melted.
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Chill for Frosting: Place the bowl with the remaining browned butter in the refrigerator to solidify while you prepare the bars.
Part 2: Make the Banana Bread Bars
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Prep Oven & Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 11×15-inch jelly roll pan.
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Combine Wet Ingredients: In the bowl with the reserved ½ cup of browned butter, whisk in the sugar and brown sugar. Then, whisk in the eggs, followed by the sour cream, mashed banana, and vanilla.
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Add Dry Ingredients: Whisk in the baking soda and salt until just combined, followed by the flour. Mix until a smooth batter forms.
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Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
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Cool: Let the bars cool in the pan while you prepare the frosting.
Part 3: Make the Frosting & Assemble
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Prep Butter: The refrigerated brown butter should now be solid but still soft enough to easily mix.
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Make Frosting: Using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the whisk attachment, gradually mix in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Once combined, add the vanilla and milk. Continue to mix, adding more milk as needed, until the frosting is creamy and smooth.
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Frost & Serve: Spread the frosting evenly over the slightly warm banana bread bars. Allow them to cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes before slicing and enjoying.
Notes
- Be sure to head over to http://www.butternutbakery.com for so many more amazing recipes!
Keywords: Dessert, Banana, Banana Bars, Brown Butter
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