Roasted Banana Bar with Browned Butter-Pecan Frosting

Makes 2 dozen

This dish starts with roasted bananas, which adds caramelized notes to their tropical sweetness. Those flavor the light-and-fluffy bars, which are topped with cream cheese icing and chopped pecans for the perfect amount of crunch.

ingredients

BARS

2 cups sliced ripe banana (about 3 medium)
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup nonfat buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
Baking spray with flour

FROSTING

1/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

directions

TO PREPARE BARS

1
Preheat oven to 400F. Combine banana, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch square baking dish. Bake at 400F for 20-25 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Cool slightly.
2
Reduce the oven temperature to 375F.
3
Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Combine banana mixture, buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in another medium bowl. Place 1/2 cup butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs to granulated sugar mixture; mix well. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternating with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
4
Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with baking spray. Bake at 375F for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

TO PREPARE FROSTING

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Combine browned butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth. Spread frosting over cooled bars. Sprinkle with pecans.

Source: Kristin