May 22, 2023
Review RecipeBanana Bread Brownies

Table of Contents
These banana bread brownies are a cross between moist banana bread and delicious brownie bars. The one-of-a-kind bars are bursting with banana flavor and topped with an out-of-this-world creamy brown butter frosting. If you are craving regular brownies, check out our lunch lady brownies. Or what about coconut brownies which feature decadent squares stuffed with creamy coconut filling?

Banana Bread Brownies Ingredients

You’ll need:
For the Brownies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup of unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts
For the Frosting
- ⅓ cup of unsalted butter
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup half-and-half cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
PRO TIP:
If you don’t want to wait for the perfect window when your bananas are perfectly ripe for baking, you can follow these instructions. To ripen bananas in the oven, bake them on parchment paper on a baking sheet at 300°F for 30-40 minutes until they are darkly blackened and soft to the touch. You can also speed up the cooling process by opening them and gently mashing them in a big bowl to help heat escape more quickly. Be sure to let them cool before adding to your batter.
Substitutions And Additions
NUTS: This banana bread brownie recipe will work fine if you want to leave out the nuts because of allergies or if you simply are not a fan of nuts.
CHOCOLATE CHIPS: Mini chocolate chips make a great addition if you love chocolate. Add ¾ cup instead of the walnuts or in addition to the walnuts.
How To Make This Banana Bread Brownies Recipe
For The Brownies
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
STEP TWO: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Set the dry ingredients aside.
STEP THREE: In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined and fluffy.

STEP FOUR: Add the eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla and mix well.

STEP FIVE: Gradually add the flour mixture to the banana mixture, mixing until well combined.

STEP SIX: Stir in the chopped walnuts.
STEP SEVEN: Pour the brownie banana bread batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes, until the edges are golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
These banana bread brownies are moist and dense. If you prefer a more cake-like texture, bake them for 25 minutes or until there are no crumbs when you test with a toothpick.

For The Brown Butter Frosting
PRO TIP:
Start making the frosting when you remove the banana bread brownies from the oven so that they will be warm but not too hot when you frost them.
STEP ONE: In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter and cook until it is a golden brown color and has a nutty aroma. Immediately, remove from the heat and stir in the powdered sugar, half and half cream, and vanilla.

STEP TWO: Using a silicone or rubber spatula, spread the frosting over the warm banana brownies.
How To Serve
These warm bars would be a delicious dessert or afternoon snack. If you are looking for an even more indulgent treat, they would be delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream on top. Of course, no dessert is complete without a drizzle of hot fudge sauce or caramel sauce.
MORE BROWNIE RECIPES
Storage
ON THE COUNTER: These banana bread brownies will last for up to 4 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
IN THE FREEZER: To freeze these banana bread brownies, place them into a freezer-safe airtight container wrapped in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw them, put them on the kitchen counter at room temperature for about 1 hour.

With all the deliciousness of banana bread baked in brownie form, this sweet treat will be a hit for dessert or a snack. If you have ripe bananas and are looking for a way to use them up, these banana bread brownies would be perfect
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store banana bread brownies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to four days.
You can freeze this great recipe by wrapping it in plastic wrap and placing them in an airtight container for up to three months.
If you don’t want to wait for the perfect window when your bananas are perfectly ripe for baking, you can follow these instructions. To ripen bananas in the oven, bake them on parchment paper on a baking sheet at 300°F for 30 to 40 minutes until they are darkly blackened and soft to the touch. You can also speed up the cooling process by opening them and gently mashing them in a big bowl to help heat escape more quickly. Be sure to let them cool before using them in your baking.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Cheesecake Brownies
- Chocolate Brownie Cake
- Strawberry Brownies
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Brownies
- Cream Cheese Banana Bread
- Banana Cake
- Lemon Brownies
- Banana Bread
- Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
- Cool Whip Frosting
- Lunch Lady Brownies
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Banana Bread
- Chocolate Bread
- Mint Chocolate Brownies
- Caramel Brownies
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
- Triple Chocolate Brownies
- Pumpkin Banana Bread
- Brownie Cupcakes

Banana Bread Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts
Frosting
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup half and half cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
Instructions
Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar, until combined and fluffy.
- Add the eggs, mashed banana, buttermilk and vanilla and mix well.
- Gradually add the flour mixture into the banana mixture, mixing until well combined.
- Stir in the chopped walnuts.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, until the edges are golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs.
Frosting
- In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter and cook until it is a golden brown, and has a nutty aroma. Immediately, remove from the heat and stir in the powdered sugar, half and half cream and vanilla.
- Using a silicone spatula spread the frosting over the warm banana brownies.
Notes
- If you don’t want to wait for the perfect window when your bananas are perfectly ripe for baking, you can follow these instructions. To ripen bananas in the oven, bake them on parchment paper on a baking sheet at 300°F for 30 to 40 minutes until they are darkly blackened and soft to the touch. You can also speed up the cooling process by opening them and gently mashing them in a big bowl to help heat escape more quickly. Be sure to let them cool before adding to your batter.
- These banana bread brownies are moist and dense. If you prefer a more cake-like texture, bake them for 25 minutes or until there are no crumbs when you test with a toothpick.
- Start making the frosting when you remove the banana bread brownies from the oven so that they will be warm but not too hot when you frost them.
Comments
Joy says
These are delicious, what a treat!
Julie says
Yummy
lynn Doane says
not my favorite
Deborah Mayeux says
Reading this recipe made my stomach growl!!!!! I’m gonna try it this week!!
Alma Vincent says
Love the frosting!
Sherri S says
The perfect recipe for a gathering.