bars Archives - NY Foodie Family

We are always on the lookout for new recipes to use up the over-ripened bananas we always seem to have sitting on our counter. I saw this recipe on Pinterest and thought the kids would enjoy these. Please note that the recipe below is my adaption of the original recipes that were found. The bars were easy to put together and my 8 year old daughter helped me do most of the prep. After I made the frosting, I found the browned butter flavor to be tasty but overall, SUPER sweet. To keep these bars more versatile, I only frosted half of them. We ate most the unfrosted section of bars as part of our breakfast for several mornings. The frosted side was more of a later day snack/dessert. These bars were super moist and tasty. Next time, I won’t even bother with the frosting and just make them as bars.

Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting
Adapted recipe that was found on Life’s Simple Measures, originally from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Ingredients:

Banana Bread Bars:

1-1/2 c. sugar

1 c. plain yogurt

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 eggs

1-1/2 c. (2) ripe bananas, mashed

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. salt

Brown Butter Frosting:

1/2 c. butter

3 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsp. almond milk

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375F. Grease 12×8-inch baking pan. For the bars, in a large bowl, beat together sugar, yogurt, butter, and eggs until creamy. Blend in bananas and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute.

2. Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick dipped in middle of bars comes out clear.

(Please note: the original recipe called for a 15×10 inch jelly pan and baking time of 20-25 minutes. I used a 12×8 inch pan that was smaller and deeper and my bars needed at least 40 minutes.)

3. Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Let the butter turn a delicate brown and remove from heat immediately.

4. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Whisk together until smooth (it should be thicker than a glaze but thinner than frosting). Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the bars are still warm).

Yield: 2 dozen large bars