Roasted Banana Bars with Browned Butter-Pecan Frosting

For the bars:
Preheat oven to 400°F.

Combine bananas, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch square baking dish. Bake at 400°F for 35 minutes, stirring after 17 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F.

Weigh or lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 1/4 cups (which is roughly 9 ounces) of flour, soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl.

Combine banana mixture, buttermilk, and 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 into the granulated sugar mixture; mix well. Add portions of the flour mixture into the sugar mixture alternating with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined.

Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan that you’ve coated with baking spray. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

For the frosting: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat then cook it for 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Combine browned butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth. Spread frosting over cooled bars. Sprinkle with pecans.