Ooey Gooey Banana Bars
These Ooey Gooey Banana Bars are a delicious dessert that combines the sweet, rich flavor of ripe bananas with a creamy caramel frosting, perfect for any banana lover.
Ingredients
For the Bars
- 1 cup Unsalted butter (melted)
- 2 cups Brown sugar Can use light or dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract Ensure it’s pure vanilla for best flavor
- 2 large Eggs (room temperature)
- 2 cups All-purpose flour Can substitute with gluten-free flour
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 pieces Ripe bananas (mashed) Fresh, ripe bananas work best
For the Frosting
- ½ cup Unsalted butter (for frosting) Room temperature
- 2 cups Confectioners' sugar
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt (for frosting)
- ¼ cup Caramel topping Adjust amount to taste
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- Whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Combine flour and kosher salt in another bowl.
- Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Gently fold in the mashed bananas until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Frosting
- Prepare the frosting while cooling by beating room temperature butter with confectioners' sugar, salt, and caramel topping until smooth.
- Adjust the consistency with milk if needed.
Serving
- Frost cooled bars generously, slice into squares, and enjoy!
Notes
Use very ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and moisture in the bars. Ensure butter is melted, but not too hot to avoid cooking the eggs during mixing. Don’t overmix the batter; mix until just combined to keep the bars soft and gooey.