Banana Bliss Bars: A Symphony of Sweetness in Every Bite
Calling all banana bread lovers! This recipe for Banana Bliss Bars takes everyone's favorite quick bread and transforms it into a delightful dessert bar experience. Imagine soft and fluffy banana bread bursting with ripe banana flavor, crowned with a decadent brown butter frosting. These bars are perfect for sharing with friends and family, or simply enjoying a delicious treat all by yourself.
Ingredients:
- For the Banana Bread Bars:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 ripe bananas, mashed
- For the Brown Butter Frosting:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat for Perfection: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a jelly roll pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Creamy Beginnings: Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This will take about 3 minutes.
- Banana Bonanza: Add the mashed bananas and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and beat until well combined.
- Dry Ingredient Symphony: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough bars.
- Baking to Golden Perfection: Pour the batter into the prepared jelly roll pan and spread it evenly using a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the bars are golden brown on top.
- Brown Butter Bliss: While the bars are baking, prepare the brown butter frosting. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter for the frosting. Swirl the pan constantly to prevent burning. The butter will foam and eventually turn a golden brown color. This will take 3-5 minutes. Once browned, remove the pan from the heat.
- Frosting Fantasy: Whisk in the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to the hot browned butter. Continue whisking until the frosting becomes smooth and creamy. If the frosting seems too thick, add an additional tablespoon of milk at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- The Grand Finale: Allow the banana bread bars to cool completely before frosting. Once cool, spread the brown butter frosting evenly over the top of the bars.
- Slice, Share, and Savor! Cut the cooled Banana Bliss Bars into squares and enjoy! The combination of moist banana bread and decadent brown butter frosting is sure to tantalize your taste buds.
Tips & Indulgence:
- These bars are best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For an extra burst of banana flavor, add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter before baking.
- If you don't have sour cream, you can substitute it with plain yogurt thinned with a splash of milk.
Comments
Post a Comment