Banana Caramel Bars
A quick & easy impressive dessert.
Ingredients
Bars:
- 1 c. brown sugar, packed
- 1 stick unsalted butter, melted and browned (see notes for how to brown butter)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. banana, mashed (about 1 large banana)
Cooked Caramel Icing:
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
- 1/8 tsp. salt (omit salt if using salted butter)
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 Tbsp. heavy cream (or half & half, or milk)
- 1 c. powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
For the bars:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare an 8 inch square pan by lining with parchment paper and lightly spraying the parchment with nonstick spray, or lightly butter the parchment to prevent sticking. If you don't have parchment, just butter and flour the pan. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, add brown sugar, browned butter, egg, and vanilla. Stir well. Add flour and salt. Stir just until flour is combined. Fold in mashed banana.
- Pour into prepared 8 in pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes, until browned around the edge. Baking time will vary depending on your oven. While the bars bake, measure the ingredients for the icing.
Caramel Icing:
- In a medium saucepan, add butter, brown sugar, salt, vanilla, and cream. Set aside. When bars are baked, removed from oven and immediately start cooking the icing.
- Over medium to high heat, melt the butter, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, and cream. As soon as the mixture starts to boil, set a timer for 1 minute. Boil for one minute only! Remove from heat, let cool about 3 minutes, then sift in 1 cup powdered sugar. Stir briskly with a whisk. This icing sets up as it cools, so you need work fast. While still warm, spread the icing over the baked bars. Let cool, cut into bars, and serve. See notes for helpful tips.
Notes
How to brown butter: Melt butter over medium heat. Keep cooking and stirring until butter begins to brown. This may take a few minutes, but keep a close eye on it. Once the browning starts, it happens fast. Brown butter adds a rich, nutty flavor to baked goods.
Icing tips: Cooking the icing for too long will make the icing set up too fast and cause sugaring. Once you see bubbles, set your timer for one minute only! And keep stirring/whisking.