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Banana Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

These banana bars are soft and moist then topped with a rich brown butter frosting! Full of banana flavor, they are the perfect way to transform ripe bananas into a delicious treat.

Have more ripe bananas? Try these other favorites including banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, banana pancakes and chocolate chip banana bread.

Banana bars with brown sugar frosting and banana slice on top.
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Frosted Banana Bread Bars

Whenever I spot a bunch of brown bananas at the store or end up with some on my counter, I know exactly what I want to make these banana bars! As much as I love banana bread these bars or banana bread brownies are a great way to try other banana desserts.

What takes them over the top is the rich and creamy brown butter frosting. It adds the best flavor and is seriously divine. These bars are great to make for a crowd and both adults and kids always love them!

How to Make Banana Bars

Folding in mashed bananas to banana bar batter with a spatula.
  • Combine wet ingredients: Cream together the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Next add in eggs, sour cream and vanilla and mix just until combined.
  • Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir just until smooth. Fold in the mashed bananas and then pour into a greased large rimmed 12×18″ baking sheet.
  • Bake in oven: Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean and the top is golden. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely.
Pouring brown butter frosting on top of banana bars.

Brown Butter Frosting for Banana Bars

I love to top my banana bars with a brown butter frosting. Brown butter adds a deep, rich flavor to baked goods and is seriously delicious.

It’s easy to make by browning butter on the stove then removing it and quickly whisking in the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.

You may also want to try these brown butter chocolate chip cookies or brown butter blondies!

Slices of frosted banana bars on a baking sheet.

Tips for the Best Banana Bars

  • Use ripe bananas! The riper they are, the more sweetness they add.
  • This recipe makes a lot! Feel free to cut it in half and bake in a 9×9″ pan.
  • Can add chopped walnuts or pecans to banana bar batter.
  • Brown sugar frosting thickens fast, so move quickly! Pour immediately on top of bars.
  • A classic cream cheese frosting (like I use on my pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting) or caramel cream cheese frosting also tastes great on top as well.
  • Add banana slices on top right before serving so they don’t get soggy and brown. You could also top with caramelized bananas for a richer flavor.
Frosted banana bar with a bite taken out.

More banana recipes we love include banana cream pie, mini banana muffins and cake mix banana bread.

More Banana Recipes

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banana bars with brown butter frosting

Banana Bars

5 from 12 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
These banana bars are soft and moist then topped with a rich brown butter frosting! Full of banana flavor, they are the perfect way to transform ripe bananas into a delicious treat.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 35 bars

Video

Ingredients 

For the banana bars:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter , at room temperature (plus more for the pan)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 5 brown bananas)

Brown butter frosting:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 ½ to 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 3-4 Tablespoons milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

For the bars:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a large rimmed baking sheet (12×18″). In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Mix just until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Slowly add the flour mixture into the other bowl and stir just until smooth. Fold in the mashed bananas and then pour into the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean and the top is golden. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely.

For the frosting:

  • For the brown butter frosting, melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, until the butter has turned a golden brown and has a nutty aroma. As soon as you notice the color change, quickly remove the pan from heat to prevent it from burning.
  • Whisk in the powdered sugar, milk and the vanilla. Pour immediately over the bars and spread evenly with a spatula. Move quickly, as the frosting will thicken fast. Cover until ready to serve.

Notes

  • This recipe makes a lot! Feel free to cut it in half and bake in a 9×9″ pan.
  • Cream cheese frosting also tastes great on top of these bars as well.
  • Add banana slices on top (if desired) right before serving so they don’t get soggy and brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 79mg | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Banana bars with brown butter frosting.

 

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