Whenever I buy a bunch of bananas I always know that I am going to have to use some of them to bake something. We just never eat them up quick enough! This time when I bought bananas it was with the intent to make these bars!
I found this recipe in my most recent issue of Cooking Light. The title in itself sounded tempting. I knew, without a doubt, I would be trying this recipe! It is different in the fact that the bananas are roasted in the oven with brown sugar and butter - before incorporating into the batter.
The house smelled wonderfully banana like while the bananas and brown sugar were roasting. Once the mixture came out and cooled a bit I had to try some of the banana and brown sugar....don't tell me you wouldn't do the same! ;o)
These bars didn't travel too far from home. Grumpy is eating them along with moi! I did take a few to drop off to my kids!!
I have to mention here to Cristine (who tickled me to death by telling me in a comment she had to get her "Shelby" fix) that if she were closer to NY she could have some too! I hope she is enjoying her visit to AZ!
Roasted Banana Bars with Browned Butter-Pecan Frosting Cooking Light Jan/Feb 2009
Bars:
2 cups sliced ripe banana (about 3 medium)
⅓ cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
9 ounces cake flour (about 2 ¼ cups)
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ cup nonfat buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup butter, softened
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
Baking spray with flour
Frosting:
¼ cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
⅓ cup (3 ounces) ⅓-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted
Preheat oven to 400°.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.Reduce the oven temperature to 375°.Weigh or lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 9 ounces (about 2 ¼ cups) flour, soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Combine banana mixture, buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in another medium bowl. Place ½ 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.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.To prepare frosting, melt ¼ 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.Calories: 221 Fat: 8.4g (sat 4.7g,mono 2.3g,poly 0.6g) Protein: 2.3gCarbohydrate: 35.1gFiber: 0.6gCholesterol: 39mgIron: 1mgSodium: 117mgCalcium: 23mg
Joie de vivre
Oh yummy. I buy a huge bunch of bananas every week thinking it will last me the week but alas, having two hungry boys in the house, we always go through them in a few days. Perhaps if I bought two huge bunches we'd have enough left to make this beautiful cake.
Megan
This sounds like a great recipe. I bet roasting them really brings out their sweetness. Yum! 🙂
And I bet the house smelled banalicious!
Poodle
I don't really care for bananas, but love them in desserts. This sounds great -- those pictures are making my mouth water. So happy to have found your blog!!
Reeni♥
I hope you make a batch of these when you come to visit!! I have been craving banana cake all week. Roasting the bananas first is genius!
HoneyB
Joy - definitely buy extra bananas for this! They don't have to be super ripe either since you cook them in brown sugar!
Poodle - I'm glad you found me too! Happy to make your mouth water!
Megan - it did smell bananalicious!
Reeni - as long as you feed me, I'll bring the bars! ;0)
Linda
I saw this recipe...it looks great and I will have to give it a try.
We love bananas. I bet they were wonderful coming out of the oven.
- bcgw.
Mmm.. that looks SO yummy!
Sharon
Somehow I must have breezed right past this recipe in CL. I think I'll make this for Valentine's Day! Just the name makes me drool.
Lisa
Looks so yummy and moist. Congrats on your new business. How did I miss that?
Ingrid
Yum, yum, yum! Those sound & look so good. We love banana desserts! Of course even if we didn't love (brown sugar roasted) banana desserts we do love some browned butter frosting pecan frosting!!! I will be making this soon! I already printed out the recipes. THANKS!
~ingrid
Melissa
Wow1 That looks great! And so dense but moist. 🙂
Gabe's Girl
These are beauties. I almost did not move past the pictures to read the recipe. What a lovely dessert. Very nice.
Bunny
Very nice different touch roasting the bananas w/ the brown sugar. I'm loving that idea! These look woderful Shelby!
Meg
I can't believe this is light. What a yummy dessert!
Bob
Looks great, and it just so happens I have a bunch of bananas that need to be used. 😉
The Food Librarian
Oh! Looks soooo delicious!! I want some!!
Sara
Wow these look fabulous! I'm a huge fan of banana anything. 🙂
Carrie
Yum!! I never get to bake with bananas because I love them so much they're all gobbled up before I get the chance.
Aparna
This looks and sounds just great, Shelby. The texture looks wonderful. My husband would love this.:)
Tracy
I am always looking for banana recipes. This looks deelish!
chuck
it just doesn't get any better than this. I love any baked good with bananas. Yummy!
Creative One
I wish I had some bananas so I could make these bars right now.
The pictures look awesome Shelby!
Carolyn Jung
This looks like a nice change from run-of-the-mill banana bread baked in a loaf pan. And I bet kids and adults love it.
JyLnC
I made a cake last week from left over bananas. No matter how hard I try to use them before they become over ripe, I always seem to have a few left over. I love Banana cake but my dh and son are not fans. :>(
Of course, there was more cake for me.:>)
This looks like another good solution to the banana dilemma.
recipes2share
Your cakes still don't look light to me - they look fantastic. I haven't made banana bread for years so think I may try this out (I need light right now!)
Daily Spud
Lovely - just made some banana bread (well, cake, really) the other day and it can't be beat 🙂 Those bars sound like a really interesting twist on bananas-in-cake though!
MJPatrick
I am loving every bits of blog! Thanks for the support.
Stephanie
That looks so delicious! It's funny though, we often have bananas left over as well, but if I buy them with the intent of using the leftovers, everyone eats them too fast and there aren't any more to bake with! Grrr...
Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer
Looks incredible and I have bananas in the kitchen right now that need to go to good use!!
Pam
Oh Shelby, this is my kind of cake...I love the frosting.
Judy
I found your post through foodgawker. As it happens, I made this recipe from CL over the weekend for a party and it was a huge hit: preferred 2 to 1 over Texas Sheet cake (gooey chocolate cake).
One bit of advice, if you like frosting, multiply the frosting recipe by 1.5 as I did.
noble pig
Looks great!
The Duo Dishes
How is it that Cooking Light always has the best sweet treat recipes?!
Hayley
These bars sound amazing. I love the chunks of banana dotted throughout. Thanks for sharing!
Kaitlin
Oooo yum! That frosting looks insane!
Bellini Valli
This really is an innovative recipe. I can't wait to try it...and I love Cooking Light!!
Chocolate Shavings
Those bars look REALLY good!
Robin Sue
I have never heard of cooking the bananas that way for cake before. Wow I bet that makes it the best! Will have to try this out as my middle little loves banana cake/bread. You sure do find some great recipes to share. I SU'd this!
Snooky doodle
this cake looks awesome and I like the caramelised banana 🙂 I have to try this. I love your blog
Andrea
Roasting bananas first is pure genius. Pure. Your cake looks so beautiful!
Christy
your cake looks amazing! I'm certainly putting this on my menu SOON!
Deb Léger
Roasting the bananas first sounds awesome. I've got to try this on the weekend! Love your blog!
Kevin
Using roasted bananas is a great idea!