While some might say that this is the season of pumpkin – or really pumpkin spice; for me at least until we get closer to Thanksgiving, I actually think banana. I can remember baking banana bread on a cool October day while dad was in the garage painting decoys and bringing out still warm slices with butter to share with him. Since I always seem to have ripe bananas in the freezer and with a soft spot for these types of desserts, it’s no wonder that these blondies caught my eye.
These soft blondies will pack a delicious crunch from walnuts, deep banana flavor, and a savory sweetness that can only come from brown butter. They remind me of banana bread but in a frosted bar form – and of course with frosting.
Here’s what you need:
Start by stirring together brown sugar and some melted butter until totally combined. Beat in an egg and vanilla.
In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Then stir into the butter mixture, until just combined.
Stir in mashed banana and walnuts.
When combined pour into an 8×8 pan that’s been lined with parchment paper and sprayed with cooking spray. Let a little parchment overhang the edge of the pan. Spread the batter into an even layer.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. The blondies will be lightly golden and a toothpick should come out clean.
Remove to a wire rack to cool.
When it’s cool, make the brown butter glaze. All that goes into the glaze is butter and powdered sugar.
Start by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking pretty frequently until you start seeing nice brown bits in the bottom.
Remove from heat and whisk in some powdered sugar.
Pour the glaze over the blondies and spread into an even layer.
Allow the glaze to set and harden as it cools. When the glaze is cool, remove from pan using the parchment. Slice into bars on a cutting board.
Enjoy!
- ½ c butter, melted
- ¾ c brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 t vanilla
- 1 c flour
- ½ t baking powder
- ¼ t salt
- ½ c mashed banana (from 1 medium banana)
- 1 c walnuts, chopped
- Glaze:
- ¼ c butter
- ¾ c powdered sugar
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line 8x8 pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray. Allow parchment to overhang the edge of the pan.
- In a mixer, beat together melted butter and brown sugar. Stir in egg and vanilla.
- Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir into butter mixture, just until combined.
- Stir in mashed banana and walnuts.
- Pour into prepared pan and smooth top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pan, set on a wire rack.
- Add butter to a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Melt and whisk. Watch carefully until you see brown bits begin to form. Remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar.
- Pour glaze on cooled blondies.
- Allow glaze to set and harden. Remove blondies from pan with the parchment overhang.
- Slice on a cutting board.
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