Brown Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Bars

Brown butter makes everything better, and adding it to banana chocolate chip bars is no exception. This is a brilliant twist, and so super delicious you might lose your mind. Wanna know what's even more brilliant? No mixer required. Just mash and stir everything in a bowl. This always elevates a baked goods recipe in my book, because it means I can bake after my kids are in bed and they aren't tipped off by the sound of a mixer. I'm sneaky like that.

Brown Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Bars

-from twopeasandtheirpod.com

-2 sticks unsalted butter

-1 1/2 cups brown sugar

-2 eggs

-2 t. vanilla extract

-1 cup mashed banana (2-3 bananas, depending on size)

-2 cups flour

-1/2 t. salt

-1/4 t. baking soda

-1 t. baking powder

-1 cup chocolate chips

First, you have to brown the butter. Cut the butter into tablespoons and place in shallow pan or skillet. Over med-low heat, melt the butter and let it simmer until it starts to turn golden and smell nutty. Occasionally, shake the pan a bit. It will get foamy and all weird looking, and you will wonder if it's OK. It's OK. You will see little brown flecks in there. That's how you know it's good. Take it off the heat at this point. Stir the brown butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl until smooth. Let it cool slightly (so your eggs don't scramble), then stir in the eggs and vanilla until smooth. Then add the bananas and stir well again. Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flour and stir just until combined. Don't over mix. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips. Spread the batter into a greased 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 min or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely (if you can possibly stand it) until cutting into squares.