These banana bars are soft and moist then topped with a rich brown butter frosting! Full of banana flavor, they are the perfect way to transform ripe bananas into a delicious treat.
Have more ripe bananas? Try these other favorites including banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, banana pancakes and chocolate chip banana bread.
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Frosted Banana Bread Bars
Whenever I spot a bunch of brown bananas at the store or end up with some on my counter, I know exactly what I want to make these banana bars! As much as I love banana bread these bars or banana bread brownies are a great way to try other banana desserts.
What takes them over the top is the rich and creamy brown butter frosting. It adds the best flavor and is seriously divine. These bars are great to make for a crowd and both adults and kids always love them!
How to Make Banana Bars
- Combine wet ingredients: Cream together the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Next add in eggs, sour cream and vanilla and mix just until combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir just until smooth. Fold in the mashed bananas and then pour into a greased large rimmed 12×18″ baking sheet.
- Bake in oven: Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean and the top is golden. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely.
Brown Butter Frosting for Banana Bars
I love to top my banana bars with a brown butter frosting. Brown butter adds a deep, rich flavor to baked goods and is seriously delicious.
It’s easy to make by browning butter on the stove then removing it and quickly whisking in the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.
You may also want to try these brown butter chocolate chip cookies or brown butter blondies!
Tips for the Best Banana Bars
- Use ripe bananas! The riper they are, the more sweetness they add.
- This recipe makes a lot! Feel free to cut it in half and bake in a 9×9″ pan.
- Can add chopped walnuts or pecans to banana bar batter.
- Brown sugar frosting thickens fast, so move quickly! Pour immediately on top of bars.
- A classic cream cheese frosting (like I use on my pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting) or caramel cream cheese frosting also tastes great on top as well.
- Add banana slices on top right before serving so they don’t get soggy and brown. You could also top with caramelized bananas for a richer flavor.
More banana recipes we love include banana cream pie, mini banana muffins and cake mix banana bread.
More Banana Recipes
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Banana Bars
Video
Ingredients
For the banana bars:
- ½ cup unsalted butter , at room temperature (plus more for the pan)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 5 brown bananas)
Brown butter frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 ½ to 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 Tablespoons milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
For the bars:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a large rimmed baking sheet (12×18″). In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Add the eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Mix just until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Slowly add the flour mixture into the other bowl and stir just until smooth. Fold in the mashed bananas and then pour into the baking sheet.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes clean and the top is golden. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely.
For the frosting:
- For the brown butter frosting, melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Cook for about 3-4 minutes, until the butter has turned a golden brown and has a nutty aroma. As soon as you notice the color change, quickly remove the pan from heat to prevent it from burning.
- Whisk in the powdered sugar, milk and the vanilla. Pour immediately over the bars and spread evenly with a spatula. Move quickly, as the frosting will thicken fast. Cover until ready to serve.
Notes
- This recipe makes a lot! Feel free to cut it in half and bake in a 9×9″ pan.
- Cream cheese frosting also tastes great on top of these bars as well.
- Add banana slices on top (if desired) right before serving so they don’t get soggy and brown.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I add caramel and maple extract to the icing and then sprinkle the top with crumbled bacon and candied pecans. Next level, good!
I cut recipe in 1/2 & used 8×8 pan. I didn’t toast butter, just did softened butter making butter cream frosting. My husband & I thought it was very moist & delicious. Thanks
That is great to hear! I am so glad that you both enjoyed these banana bars!
These were delicious!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them!
the recipe calls for 1/2 a cup of butter ( 1 stick) but I cant help but notice in the accompanying video you put 2 sticks in…. that seems to be quite a difference. I’m hoping to make these today….
Just double checked my original and it is 1/2 cup for the batter. We hire out our videos so they could have added more or used smaller sticks but I would stick to the recipe card.
We made them as per the recipe and they were delicious!!!
These bars are yummy! Pretty easy to make and those who tried them really liked them. It was my first attempt at brown butter and it worked well.
I’m so glad to hear everyone enjoyed them! :)
I love anything with brown butter. That is what caught my eye for this recipe. These banana bars were good even without the frosting. But oh man, with the frosting….so delicious. We had to give some away so we didn’t eat them all.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for your comment! :)
Absolutely Delicious!! My family ate it all up ( I made the 9 x 9 pan size) So I have made a 2nd one to share with friends tomorrow at lunch. The brown butter frosting is divine. Definitely a ” keeper recipe”. Thanks.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for your kind comment and review CJ. :)
I love these!! So does the rest of my family :) Thank you for sharing all your amazing recipes <3
I’m so glad you love these! Thanks for your comment Melissa. :)
Goodness, that frosting is amazing!! I could eat it with a spoon!
These banana bars was amazing, both of my girls loved it! Thank you for the recipe!
This is such a fun way to use leftover ripe bananas! Absolutely LOVE that brown butter frosting on top!
I didn’t measure the 2 cups of mashed banana, I just trusted my 5 overripe bananas would be 2 cups. I think that was a mistake, the bars are kind of wet. The flavor is good though, so I will try again next time I have brown bananas.
I’m sorry they were wet. I hope you give them another try. They are one of my favorite bar recipes! :)
I’m sure it was user error on my part ?
I love brown butter frosting! I can eat it by the spoonful! These banana bars look amazing! It perfectly fine that this recipe makes a lot because I’ll no trouble getting rid of them!
Brown butter frosting really is amazing! I love having extra to put between graham crackers for a snack too! :)
Can these banana bars be frozen