Banana Bread Brownies are rich, soft, and packed with banana flavor, making them a fun twist on classic brownies.
Banana Bread Brownies are the best of both worlds, blending the comforting flavor of classic banana bread with the rich, dense texture of brownies. Made with ripe bananas and simple pantry ingredients, these bars are soft, moist, and packed with flavor.
Perfect for dessert, snacking, or sharing, this easy recipe is a delicious way to use up overripe bananas.
If you have a lot of ripe bananas, you can also make this Moist Banana Cake and Chocolate Banana Bread. Ripe bananas make the best desserts so don’t toss them.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Best of Both Worlds: Combines the flavor of banana bread with the texture of brownies.
- Super Moist: Ripe bananas keep these brownies soft and tender.
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and minimal prep make this recipe beginner friendly that taste great.
- Great for Overripe Bananas: A delicious way to use up bananas before they go bad.
- Perfect Anytime Treat: Ideal for dessert, snacks, or even a sweet breakfast option.
Ingredients
Brownies
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a moist, tender brownie texture.
- Sour Cream: Keeps the brownies extra moist and adds a subtle tang that balances the sweetness.
- Butter (Softened): Provides rich flavor and a soft, cake-like crumb.
- Large Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and help the brownies rise slightly.
- Ripe Bananas (Mashed): The star ingredient that adds natural sweetness, moisture, and classic banana bread flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors and adds warmth to the brownies.
Frosting
- Butter: Creates a smooth and creamy frosting base.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness with a hint of caramel flavor.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
- Vanilla Extract: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
Scroll to the bottom and find the complete ingredient list and recipe.
Variations
- Chocolate Chip Banana Brownies: Fold chocolate chips into the batter for extra richness.
- Nutty Version: Add chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
- Cream Cheese Swirl: Swirl sweetened cream cheese into the batter before baking.
- No Glaze Option: Skip the glaze for a more classic banana bread-style brownie.
- Cinnamon Banana Brownies: Add a pinch of cinnamon to enhance the banana flavor.
- Topping. Skip the glaze and add Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe.
Step By Step Instructions
- Step 1. Preheat the oven and spray the pan. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9X13 baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
Step 2. Combine the butter and sugar. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with a handheld mixer or stand mixer until combined.
Step 3. Mix in the mashed bananas and eggs. Add in the sour cream, eggs, mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.
Step 4. Then stir in the flour, baking soda, salt and mix until just combined. Be careful not to over mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients.
Step 5. Spread the banana bread batter into the baking dish. Pour the batter evenly into a baking pan. We used a 9×13 pan and it made the brownies perfect.
Step 6. Bake the Banana Brownies for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The brownies will turn golden brown.
Step 7. Heat butter in a skillet or large saucepan. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Step 8. Whisk in the brown sugar. Bring the mixture to a low boil and cook until the sugar dissolves and the butter starts to brown. Then remove from heat. Whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and gradually add in the milk until the frosting is a good consistency. It should be thicker than a glaze.
Step 9. Finally, top the brownies with frosting. Pour the glaze over the warm banana brownies. Use a spatula to spread the brown butter frosting all over. Allow the brownies to set. Then cut and serve.
Storage
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap up to 3-4 days.
Refrigerator: Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days for longer freshness.
Freezing: Freeze unfrosted or frosted brownies for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Layering: If stacking, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Expert Tips
- Use Very Ripe Bananas: The riper, the sweeter and more flavorful the brownies will be.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, fold gently to avoid tough or dense brownies.
- Line Your Pan: Use parchment paper or lightly grease the pan for easy removal.
- Check for Doneness: The edges should look set, but the center can be slightly soft; it will firm as it cools.
- Cool Completely: Let the brownies cool fully in the pan before cutting to get clean slices.
- Optional Add-Ins: Chocolate chips, nuts, or a swirl of peanut butter can be added for extra flavor and texture.
- Make Ahead: These brownies keep well in the fridge for a few days, and flavors even improve after a day.
Try More Easy Banana Recipes
- Easy banana pudding fluff recipe
- 51 Easy Banana Desserts
- Banana Pudding Poke Cake Recipe
- Moist Banana Cake Recipe
- Bananas Fosters
Bake a batch of these decadent Banana Bread Brownies today and enjoy the perfect combination of fudgy chocolate and sweet banana. Don’t forget to leave a star rating and comment to share how they turned out!
Banana Bread Brownies
Ingredients
For the Brownies:
- 1 ½ cups Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Sour Cream
- ½ cup Butter softened
- 2 Large Eggs
- 3 Ripe Bananas mashed
- 1 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
For the Frosting:
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ cup Milk
Instructions
For the Brownies:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9X13 baking pan with a non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with a hand held mixer or stand up mixer until combined.
- Add in the sour cream, eggs, mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.
- Then stir in the flour, baking soda, salt and mix until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.
- Pour the batter evenly into a baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
For the Frosting:
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Whisk in the brown sugar.
- Bring the mixture to a low boil and cook until the sugar dissolves and the butter starts to brown.
- Remove from heat.
- Whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract and gradually add in the milk until the frosting is a good consistency.
- Pour the glaze over the warm banana brownies.
- Let the brownies set until the glaze has cooled.
- Then they are ready to cut, serve and enjoy!
