Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

Transform those overripe bananas into something delectable! It’s traditional banana bread with a twist. All it takes is a touch of brown buttered frosting to turn the mundane into mouthwatering. This recipe requires butter, so be sure to use this coupon $0.55/2 – Challenge Butter Sticks, 16 oz – (couponnetwork.com)

Banana Bread Bars 

11/2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
3 or 4 ripe bananas, mashed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Brown Butter Frosting

1/2 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
11/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 10×15 inch pan. In a bowl mix sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs until creamy. Add the bananas and vanilla extract. Next, add in the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and salt. If you are using walnuts add these in next. Pour the batter into the greased pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

While the bars are baking, begin making the frosting. Melting the butter and letting it cook but not over-cook is the secret to this frosting. Once the butter has melted DO NOT take your eyes off of it! It can quickly go from cooked to burnt and will not taste good. Once the butter melts, continue to stir it. It will get white and frothy on top. With a wooden spoon keep checking on the color of the butter. Once it turns a light brown, it is done cooking. Remove from heat, and mix with powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.  Pour it on top of the warm cake. The frosting is much easier to spread when the cake is warm.