Brown Butter Banana Oat Bars
Soft banana bars with nutty brown butter and hearty oats. Easy one-bowl bake that slices clean for snacks or dessert.
45 mins
2 batches of 12
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter
- 2 cups Old-Fashioned Oats
- 4 Ripe Bananas
- ½ cup Walnuts
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 ½ cups Light Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
Directions
- Mise en place: Gather and ready every ingredient—measure the butter, peel and mash the bananas, weigh the brown sugar, crack the egg, pour the vanilla, sift the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, pinch of salt, and roughly chop the walnuts.
- Set the oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and prepare an 8‑inch square baking pan by greasing it and laying a sheet of parchment paper, allowing excess to overhang the edges.
- Place the butter in a small pot over medium heat, stirring often; after 4–6 minutes it will foam, turn a deep amber and release a nutty aroma. Transfer the browned butter to a large mixing bowl and let it sit for about five minutes to cool slightly.
- Add the mashed bananas, brown sugar, the egg and vanilla extract to the warm butter, beating until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, rolled oats, baking powder, ground cinnamon and salt until evenly combined.
- Fold the dry mixture into the wet batter, mixing just enough to incorporate, then gently stir in the chopped walnuts.
- Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula, and place the pan in the oven.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, watching for a set surface and a tester inserted in the center to come out with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the pan to rest for at least 20 minutes to cool, then lift the parchment overhang and cut the slab into twelve equal bars.
