Brown Butter Banana Bars
Looking for the best Brown Butter Banana Bars recipe? These soft and chewy banana bars are packed with sweet ripe bananas, rich browned butter frosting, and walnuts. If you have overripe bananas, this is the perfect way to use them. These bars combine the comforting flavor of homemade banana bread with the indulgent texture of dessert bars. Perfect for any occasion!
Why You’ll Love These Brown Butter Banana Bars:
- Soft, chewy, and perfectly moist
- Made with simple pantry ingredients
- Packed with rich brown butter flavor
- A great way to use overripe bananas
- Easy to customize with nuts or chocolate chips
The browned butter adds a deep, nutty flavor that elevates these banana bars beyond a traditional banana bread recipe.
What is Brown Butter?
Brown butter is regular butter that has been cooked until the milk solids turn golden brown. This simple technique creates a rich, caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with bananas.
Ingredients for Brown Butter Banana Bars:
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups mashed bananas, about 4 medium ripe bananas
- 2 tsp vanillla
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cups chopped walnuts, optional
Browned Butter Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 tbsp milk
How to Make Brown Butter Banana Bars:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 x 15 baking sheet. Line with parchment paper if desired.
- Mash the bananas with a fork.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, sour cream, and butter until creamy.
- Mix in two eggs until combined.
- Blend in the mashed bananas and vanilla and mix for about one minute or until combined.
- Add flour, baking soda and salt and blend until combined.
- Fold in chopped walnuts and pour into prepared baking sheet.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Brown butter and start frosting while the bars are baking.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly until just warm.
Browned Butter Frosting:
- Cook butter in saucepan over medium high heat until butter reaches a low boil. Reduce heat and continue to simmer until golden brown and fragrant. Allow it to cool slightly before mixing.
- Stir in the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Add more or less milk to make a spreadable frosting.
- Pour frosting over warm banana bars and spread with a spatula. Let cool completely, slice, and enjoy!!
Tips for the Best Banana Bars:
- Use bananas with plenty of brown spots.
- Do not overmix the batter.
- Let the browned butter cool slightly before adding the powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Cool completely before cutting for clean slices.
Notes:
- Banana bars can be made ahead of time and actually taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
- Banana bars can be frozen by wrapping individual bars tightly in plastic wrap. Freeze for up to three months.
- Browning the butter is absolutely worth the extra time as it gives a richer, nutty flavor to the bars.
- Add 1 cup chocolate chips if desired for chocolate lovers!
Other Yummy Recipes To Try:
Brown Butter Banana Bars
Looking for the best Brown Butter Banana Bars recipe? These soft and chewy banana bars are packed with sweet ripe bananas, rich browned butter frosting, and walnuts.
Equipment
- 1 10 x 15 baking sheet
- 1 saucepan
- 1 Stand Mixer
- 1 mixing bown for frosting
- 1 spatula
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups mashed bananas, about 4 medium ripe bananas
- 2 tsp vanillla
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional
Browned Butter Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 x 15 baking sheet. Line with parchment paper if desired.
- Mash the bananas with a fork.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, sour cream, and butter until creamy.
- Mix in two eggs until combined.
- Blend in the mashed bananas and vanilla and mix for about one minute or until combined.
- Add flour, baking soda and salt and blend until combined.
- Fold in chopped walnuts and pour into prepared baking sheet.
- Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Brown butter and start frosting while the bars are baking. Remove from oven and let cool slightly until just warm.
Browned Butter Frosting:
- Cook butter in saucepan over medium high heat until it reaches a low boil. Lower heat and continue to simmer until golden brown and fragrant. Allow it to cool slightly before mixing.
- Stir in the powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. Add more or less milk to make a spreadable frosting.
- Pour frosting over warm banana bars and spread with a spatula. Let cool completely, slice, and enjoy!!
- NOTES: *Banana bars can be made ahead of time and actually taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop. *Banana bars can be frozen by wrapping individual bars tightly in plastic wrap. Freeze for up to three months. *Browning the butter is absolutely worth the extra time as it gives a richer, nutty flavor to the bars. *Add 1 cup chocolate chips if desired for chocolate lovers!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!