Description
Ultra-moist banana bars made extra special with nutty browned butter and topped with a rich, fluffy salted caramel buttercream for a sweet-salty treat everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup unsalted butter (for bars, to be browned)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (for buttercream)
- 3–4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- Pinch of sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir constantly until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Add browned butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let bars cool completely.
- For the Salted Caramel Buttercream: Beat the unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in the salted caramel sauce and milk or cream. Beat until fluffy and smooth. Add a pinch of sea salt to taste.
- Spread the buttercream generously over the cooled banana bars. Drizzle extra salted caramel sauce and sprinkle flaky sea salt if desired.
Notes
- Add toasted pecans or walnuts to the batter for crunch.
- Top with extra salted caramel drizzle or flaky sea salt for a bakery-worthy touch.
- Bars can be frozen unfrosted for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg