Roasted Banana Bars with Browned Butter–Pecan Frosting

Put those ripe, speckled bananas to good use. This dish starts with roasting bananas which adds caramelized notes to their tropical sweetness. The bananas flavor the light-and-fluffy bars, which are topped with cream cheese icing and chopped pecans for the perfect amount of tanginess and crunch.

Bars:

2 cups sliced ripe banana (about 3 medium)

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon butter, chilled and cut into small pieces

9 ounces cake flour (about 2 1/4 cups)

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup nonfat buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar                               

2 large eggs                               

Baking spray with flour

Frosting:

1/4 cup butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened                               

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted 

                              

Preparation

1. 1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. 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. 3. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°.
4. 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. 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. 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