Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

I feel like everytime I make a banana-based recipe, I once again tell you how much I love banana things. That love has escalated in a serious way since making these bars. Run, don't walk, into your kitchen and peruse your cupboards to see if you can make these TODAY. And then buy a couple pairs of pants in a bigger size...

When I brought these to a family gathering my 4-year old niece said, "Can you come to my house and make these and then leave them there?" I guess they were a hit!!

Start by beating together the butter, sugar, eggs and yogurt.

Mix in the vanilla

and the bananas. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt and gradually add to the banana mixture, beating just until combined. Spread the batter into a jelly roll pan

and bake for 20-25 minutes. Set the bars on a wire rack to cool,

then make the frosting. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium low heat and then let it come to a boil.

Now watch the butter, but don't stir, and let it turn a delicate brown color. When it does, remove it from the heat.

Add the powdered sugar, milk

and vanilla and whisk well until smooth. Spread the frosting over the bars while they are still warm.

Then try to wait til they cool completely to cut and sample! They are worth the wait.

I liked these bars best stored in the refrigerator between snackings...(if it's a hot day and the bars are out, the frosting will melt...)

One year ago: Cherry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt
Two years ago: Black Forest Freezer Pie
Three years ago: Lemon Blueberry Zucchini Cake

Find more inspiration at Mangia Monday, Mop it up Monday, Seasonal Inspiration, Mix it Up Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Recipe Sharing Monday, On the Menu Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday at the Table, Tasty Tuesday (#2), Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesday (#3), Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, Hearth and Soul, Cast Party Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Whatcha Whipped Up Wednesday, Recipe Box.

Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

Bars:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups ripe bananas, mashed
2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3-4 Tbsp. milk

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. Spread batter evenly into greased and floured 15x10 jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Without stirring and watching carefully, let the butter turn a delicate brown then remove from heat immediately.

Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk. Whisk together until smooth. Spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the bars are still warm).

Recipe Source: slightly adapted from Life's Simple Measures