Brown Butter Banana Bars

These are sooooooooo good. The frosting is the icing on the cake *pun intended*. This recipe makes a large sheet cake so first I gave some to my family. They all loved it (Good sign!). Then I brought to the Young Women at church (the few who chose these over candy like it). With still half a pan left and knowing my lack of self control, I sent the rest to work with Kevin. He later reported that every. single. person. who ate one of these bars LOVED THEM. There you have it folks. Three different groups of people and loads of approving words. If you have brown bananas and some butter, you must make these. Now. Run. To the kitchen. And make them. Then run. Around the block. 10 times. That's probably about how many calories you just ingested, unless you have more self control than I do.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cup sugar

1 cup plain greek yogurt

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

4 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

Brown Butter Frosting:

1/2 cup butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 Tbs milk

Directions:

Heat oven to 375F.  Spray with non-stick spray a 15x10-inch jelly roll pan.  For the bars, in a large mixing bowl, beat together sugar and butter until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time. Add yogurt and blend well.  Add in bananas and vanilla. 

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture in mixing bowl. Blend well. Spread batter evenly into pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

While bars are baking, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Butter will foam and bubble and then quickly turn brown. Remove from heat immediately to avoid scorching. 

Whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Whisk until smooth. Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting is easier to spread evenly onto the bars while warm). 

Yield: 3 dozen large bars

Inspired by http://lifessimplemeasures.blogspot.com/2012/01/banana-bread-bars-with-brown-butter.html