Roasted Banana Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

Roasted Banana Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

adapted from Cooking Light

• 3 medium sliced ripe banana
• 1/3  cup  packed dark brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon  butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
• 9  ounces  cake flour (about 2 1/4 cups)
• 3/4  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/4  cup  lowfat buttermilk
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1/2  cup  butter, softened
• 1 1/4  cups  granulated sugar
• 2  large eggs
• Baking spray with flour 

Frosting:

• 1/4  cup  butter
• 2  cups  powdered sugar
• 1/3  cup  (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1  teaspoon  vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. To prepare bars, combine banana, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch square baking dish. Bake at 400° for 35 minutes, stirring after 17 minutes. Cool slightly.
3. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°.
4. Weigh or lightly spoon cake flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 9 ounces (about 2 1/4 cups) flour, soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Combine banana mixture, buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon 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 to granulated sugar mixture; mix well. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternating with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
5. Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with baking spray. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
6. To prepare frosting, melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Combine browned butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth. Spread frosting over cooled cake.

Notes:

This cake is worth going out and getting bananas for rather then searching for a recipe to use ripe bananas.  The frosting is SO good.  I can't stop thinking about what else to use it on.  The cake was done at 20 minutes but, I kept it in for 3 more minutes which was a mistake as it dried it out a bit.  The butter turns brown fast so, you have to keep an eye on it.  It is truly delicious.