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Ooey Gooey Banana Bars Recipe

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4.2 from 14 reviews

Deliciously moist and sweet, these Ooey Gooey Banana Bars combine ripe bananas and a rich brown sugar butter base baked to perfection, topped with a smooth and creamy salted caramel buttercream frosting. Perfect for any dessert lover, these bars offer a delightful balance of flavors with a gooey center and a luscious caramel finish.

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12 bars

Ingredients

Banana Bars

  • 1 cup (2 sticks / 227 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 cups (400 g) brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 ripe bananas, mashed, some chunks are okay (about ⅔ cup)

Salted Caramel Buttercream

  • ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 cups (250 g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ cup (82 g) caramel topping
  • 1 ½ teaspoons whole milk, as needed

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the bars later.
  2. Mix Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to combine the melted butter and brown sugar until well blended.
  3. Add Vanilla: On low speed, add the vanilla bean paste to the mixture and mix until fully incorporated, ensuring even flavor distribution.
  4. Incorporate Eggs: Beat in the eggs on low speed until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
  5. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and kosher salt, mixing well to create the batter without overmixing.
  6. Fold in Bananas: Gently fold the mashed bananas into the batter, leaving some chunks for texture.
  7. Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 32-36 minutes, or until the center feels set and a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool the Bars: Allow the banana bars to cool completely in the pan while you prepare the buttercream.
  9. Make Salted Caramel Buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners’ sugar, kosher salt, and caramel topping. Mix on low speed initially until the sugar is incorporated.
  10. Whip Frosting: Increase the mixer speed to high and beat the mixture until smooth and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Add whole milk a teaspoon at a time as needed to reach desired frosting consistency.
  11. Frost the Bars: Once the banana bars have cooled completely, spread the salted caramel buttercream evenly over the top.

Notes

  • Use very ripe bananas for maximum flavor and moisture.
  • Be careful not to overbake the bars to maintain their gooey texture.
  • Make sure the bars are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting the buttercream.
  • The vanilla bean paste can be substituted with vanilla extract if unavailable.
  • The salted caramel buttercream can be stored separately and added just before serving for best texture.
  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Find it online: https://iamstarved.com/ooey-gooey-banana-bars-recipe/