Roasted Banana Bars with Browned Butter–Pecan Frosting

By Hapemom

This recipe is a great way to use ripe, speckled bananas ... it was the dessert winner in Cooking Light's 2008 Ultimate Reader Recipe Contest. The roasted bananas add a caramel sweetness to the light-and-fluffy bars, which are topped with cream cheese icing and chopped pecans for the perfect amount of tanginess and crunch.

Ingredients

• BARS:
• 2 cups sliced ripe banana (about 3 medium)
• 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 T. butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 9 ounces cake flour (about 2 1/4 cups)
• 3/4 t. baking soda
• 1/2 t. baking powder
• 1/4 c. nonfat buttermilk
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 1/2 c. butter, softened
• 1 1/4 c. granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• Baking spray with flour
• ___________________
• FROSTING:
• 1/4 c. butter
• 2 c. powdered sugar
• 1/3 c, (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 1/4 c. chopped pecans, toasted

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. To prepare bars, combine banana, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch square baking dish. Bake at 400° for 35 minutes, stirring after 17 minutes. Cool slightly.

3. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°.

4. Weigh or lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 9 ounces (about 2 1/4 cups) 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.

5. Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with baking spray. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

6. 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.