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Moist Banana Bars with Browned Butter Vanilla Glaze

Close-up of a square slice of Moist Banana Bars with Browned Butter Vanilla Glaze on a white plate.
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Bake these simple banana bars for a moist, tender dessert, topped with a rich, nutty browned butter vanilla glaze.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas)
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk or whole milk
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for glaze)
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk or cream (for glaze, if needed)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, melt 1/2 cup (1 stick) of the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring often, until the butter foams and brown bits form at the bottom, giving off a nutty aroma. Immediately pour the browned butter into a separate heatproof bowl and let it cool slightly.
  4. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to the browned butter. Whisk until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
  5. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
  6. Gently fold in the mashed bananas.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly.
  8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
  9. To make the glaze, melt the remaining 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter in the same saucepan over medium heat until browned, similar to step 3. Pour the browned butter into a small bowl.
  10. Whisk the powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract into the warm browned butter. Add milk or cream one tablespoon at a time until you reach a smooth, pourable consistency.
  11. Pour the glaze over the cooled banana bars and spread evenly. Let the glaze set before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Use very ripe, spotty bananas for the best moisture and flavor in the bars.
  • Browning the butter for the glaze requires attention; remove it from the heat as soon as you see brown specks to prevent burning.
  • You can add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter before baking for extra texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishdiarist.com/moist-banana-bars-browned-butter-vanilla-glaze/