BANANAS FOSTER BARS

If you love Bananas Foster, I simply adore it, then you will fall in love with these bars as well. Pack them in your gift giving Christmas tins and be prepared to share the recipe.

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1 tablespoon dark rum or 1 teaspoon rum extract
1 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup bananas, diced
1/2 cup (2 ounces) pecans or walnuts, chopped

Frosting:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon rum or pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 to 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted

Cooking Directions:Bars:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter and flour 9-inch square pan*.
In large bowl, beat together butter and sugar with electric mixer until creamy. Add egg and rum; mix to combine.

In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; gradually add to butter mixture. Mix in bananas and pecans; stir to incorporate. Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:
In large bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, sugar and extract with an electric mixer. Beat until light and fluffy. Add cinnamon and 1 cup confectioners’ sugar; blend until smooth (careful; over mixing will cause separation). Add additional confectioners’ sugar to create desired consistency.
Spread frosting immediately over cooled bars. Cover and store bars in refrigerator for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, cut bars into 2-inch squares.
*For a thicker bar, use an 8-inch square pan.

" We share half our genes with the banana." [After the announcement Jun 2000 that a working draft of the genetic sequence of humans had been completed by the Human Genome Project.]