I’ve seen this recipe for months, but every time I’ve gone to make it my bananas had been eaten. So when I noticed I had 3 brown bananas sitting on the counter I got to baking. A big thanks to Life’s Simple Pleasures for this awesome recipe. I only had to make two adjustments to make these gluten free. Before I give you the recipe I have to tell you a funny story about baking!
I have always loved to bake, I think I learned how to bake before I learned how to cook. My mom had one rule about baking, clean up your mess when you are done! If we left a mess after baking, then the next time we wanted to create something yummy, mom would deny us kitchen privileges. I remember one time I had my best friend over and she really wanted to bake brownies. But last time she was over we had baked and made the mistake of leaving a mess. She asked my mom if we could make brownies and quickly got denied kitchen privileges. She REALLY wanted those brownies and my mom had some errands to run so as soon as mom left the house my friend wanted to start making the brownies. I knew we would get caught so I refused to help and told her if she made them she was on her own with my mom.
My friend finished making the batter and then realized that if she turned the oven on mom would know and she would get busted. So she went to the neighbors house, told them our oven was broken and asked if they would bake the pan of brownies for her. We had great neighbors, so of course they said yes. I was starting to think she might actually get away with her brownie scheming. As she was walking towards the back door with the warm brownies in her hands my mom drove around the corner. My friend couldn’t get inside the house or back to the neighbors house without being seen by mom. So she decided the best thing to do would be jumping into the bushes by the back door to avoid being seen and caught. After eating half the pan of brownies (trying to destroy the evidence) and getting sick, she realized her only option was to “come clean” with my mom. Instead of getting upset my wonderful mother thought it was pretty funny! Mom and I laughed pretty hard and then enjoyed a brownie or two !
Would I jump into the bushes to eat a bunch of these banana bars?…….H to the heck yah!!! My brother in law was floored when he found out that these are gluten free! The flavor and texture are just divine! The frosting is out of this world! I think you should make some, but eat them in the house and not in your bushes 🙂
This Pin ROCKS!
Regular Recipe
Banana Bars with Brown Butter Frosting
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 c. sugar
- 1 c. sour cream
- 1/2 c. butter softened
- 2 eggs
- 1-3/4 3 or 4 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 c. all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. chopped walnuts optional
- Brown Butter Frosting:
- 1/2 c. butter
- 4 c. powdered sugar
- 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3 tbsp. milk
Instructions
- Grease and flour a 15 X 10-inch Jelly Roll pan. Preheat your oven to 375F.
- In a large bowl mix together your sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs until they are creamy. Next blend in bananas and vanilla extract. Now add your flour, baking soda, salt and blend them for 1 minute. If desired stir in walnuts.
- Spread the batter evenly into your pan. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until golden brown.
- While your cake is baking, heat your butter in a large saucepan on medium heat until boiling. Let it turn a delicate brown and then remove from heat immediately.
- Add powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until your frosting is smooth. It should be thinner than frosting but thicker than a glaze.
- Spread frosting over bars while they are warm. The frosting will thicken and harden making it difficult to spread on bars when cool.
Gluten Free Recipe
Gluten Free Banana Bars with Brown Butter Frosting
Ingredients
- Banana Bread Bars:
- 1-1/2 c. sugar
- 1 c. sour cream
- 1/2 c. butter softened
- 2 eggs
- 1-3/4 3 or 4 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 c Jules Gluten Free Flour
- 1 c Oatmeal Blended in a food blender
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/2 c. chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
- Grease and flour a 15 X 10-inch Jelly Roll pan. Preheat your oven to 375F.
- In a large bowl mix together your sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs until they are creamy. Next blend in bananas and vanilla extract. Now add your Jules Gluten Free flour and blended oatmeal, baking soda, salt and blend them for 1 minute. If desired stir in walnuts.
- Spread the batter evenly into your pan. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until golden brown.
- While your cake is baking, heat your butter in a large saucepan on medium heat until boiling. Let it turn a delicate brown and then remove from heat immediately.
- Add powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until your frosting is smooth. It should be thinner than frosting but thicker than a glaze.
- Spread frosting over bars while they are warm. The frosting will thicken and harden making it difficult to spread on bars when cool.
The first recipe on these wonderful-sounding bars lists regular all-purpose flour but the title says “gluten-free.” The second version specifies gluten-free. Am I missing something? I can’t wait to try this. I have a gluten sensitive friend who would adore these!
Ann,
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve listed the recipe with regular all purpose flour and with gluten-free flour so these can be made either way! Use the gluten free recipe and you will be fine. Your friend will love you for making these! Tracy – The Middle Child
Thanks. I was just a bit confused as the first recipe had in the title that it was “gluten free.” I figured it out so no problem. I can’t wait to try both recipes! I think I’ll do both at the same time to see if I can tell the difference.
Ann,
Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I made the correction and updated the post to avoid further confusion. Enjoy your banana bars! Tracy – The Middle Child
What is the texture supposed to be like on these? Cakey?
I had to do mine in a Pyrex and it was a little thicker- it’s solid but very moist inside- not fluffy. This is my first attempt at gf baking so I’m not sure what is what yet!
Emily,
Gluten free cooking is all about trial and error! Two thoughts for you,the Banana Bars would be fluffier with a Jelly Roll pan. Or you can play around with the flour and ground oatmeal portions when using a Pyrex pan. The oatmeal should make the Banana Bars fluffier, so add a little less GF flour and a little more oatmeal until you find the texture you like.
The more GF baking you do the better you will become at it! Be patient it takes a little time to figure out what will work for you. If you are on a tight budget for a Jelly Roll Pan, try a local thrift store, I’m a huge fan of thrift stores. I’m actually headed out this morning to several of my favorite thrift stores to see what treasures I can find! Have a great week Tracy – The Middle Child
Hi, these sound delicious! I have to make them gf as I have celiiac. Would I be able to put the oats in a regular blender or can I skip that part all together and just add the oats in as is?? Thanks
Hey Peggy!
They are so delicious! I think adding the oats in without putting them in the blender first will change the texture a bit. But I think it will work just fine, you will be the first to give this a try, we would love to hear what you think! Have a great day, Tracy
Hi, do you need to add xanthan gum when making the gluten free version of the recipe? Thanks.
Hi Rhonda,
No xanthan gum required in this recipe. Just warning you, they are addictive! Enoy, Tracy
Rather than blending the oats, can you use oat flour instead?
Hi Joyce,
I think the oat flour should work just fine. You are going to LOVE them! Tracy