If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen torn between baking a classic banana bread and gooey brownies, this recipe will sweep those dilemmas away! These Banana Bread Brownies take the best of both worlds: the moist crumb and sweet banana aroma from banana bread, plus the irresistible bar shape and a dreamy brown butter frosting reminiscent of your favorite brownie. They bake up wholesome yet decadent, flecked with nuts and creamy white chocolate chips, making them perfect for sharing—or keeping just for yourself!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of these Banana Bread Brownies is in their simplicity. Each ingredient plays its part, whether delivering richness, structure, or that signature golden color. Here’s what you need and why you don’t want to skip a thing:
- Granulated sugar: Delivers sweetness and helps with the tender crumb.
- Sour cream: Adds moisture and a subtle tang, ensuring the brownies don’t dry out.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Provides richness and classic buttery flavor.
- Large eggs: Bind everything together for a soft but sturdy bar.
- Ripe bananas (mashed): Bring all the banana flavor and natural sweetness—ripe with brown spots is best!
- Vanilla extract: Gives a comforting, bakery-style aroma.
- All-purpose flour: Creates structure and a satisfying bite.
- Baking soda: Helps the brownies rise just enough.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and brightens all the flavors.
- Chopped walnuts (optional): Add a satisfying crunch and classic banana bread vibe.
- White chocolate chips (optional): Add creamy pockets that melt right in your mouth.
- For the Brown Butter Frosting:
- Unsalted butter: Cooking it to brown adds a nutty, toasty flavor that lifts the whole dessert.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens and gives the frosting a luscious, silky texture.
- Milk: Makes the frosting spreadable and smooth.
- Vanilla extract: Pairs perfectly with the brown butter for a heavenly finish.
How to Make Banana Bread Brownies
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Oven
First things first—get your oven preheating to 375°F and prepare a 9×9-inch baking pan. You can use nonstick spray, a slick of butter, or lining with parchment paper. A well-prepped pan guarantees your Banana Bread Brownies will pop out beautifully with crisp, neat edges.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients
Grab a large mixing bowl and beat together the granulated sugar, sour cream, softened butter, and eggs until the mixture is wonderfully smooth. This step is where you start building the creamy texture that sets these brownies apart from dry, crumbly imposters!
Step 3: Add Bananas and Vanilla
Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Don’t worry if it looks a bit lumpy—the bananas will dissolve into the batter as it bakes, infusing every bite with flavor and moisture. The fragrance alone will have you swooning before these Banana Bread Brownies even hit the oven.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mixing these dry ingredients on their own first ensures they distribute evenly throughout the batter, so your bars bake up with the perfect lift and flavor in every square.
Step 5: Bring It All Together
Gently fold the dry ingredients into your wet mixture until just combined. The trick is to mix only until you see no streaks of flour—overmixing will make your Banana Bread Brownies tough instead of tender. If you’re adding walnuts and white chocolate chips, fold them in now for bonus flavor and texture.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Pour your batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. Slide it into the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Your kitchen will smell amazing! The brownies are ready when a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Let them cool completely before you move on to frosting—patience is worth it!
Step 7: Make the Brown Butter Frosting
To take your Banana Bread Brownies to the next level, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and let it cook until golden and nutty smelling. Remove from the heat and whisk in powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Give it a good stir until smooth and luscious, then spread over your cooled brownies. Give the frosting a chance to set before slicing into generous squares.
How to Serve Banana Bread Brownies
Garnishes
A simple dusting of extra chopped walnuts, a scattering of white chocolate chips, or even a light drizzle of caramel sauce can dress up your Banana Bread Brownies. For a fancy touch, a pinch of flaked sea salt highlights the brown butter’s nutty notes.
Side Dishes
These bars pair perfectly with an icy glass of milk or mug of fresh coffee. For an afternoon treat, serve alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream—the creamy chill is such a fun contrast to the soft, sweet brownies. For brunch, try with a bowl of fresh berries and whipped cream.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn your brownies into a wow-worthy dessert by stacking pieces into towers and finishing with a dramatic swirl of frosting or a sprinkle of nuts. For an easy crowd-pleaser, cut into mini squares and arrange on a pretty platter, or wrap individual portions in parchment and tie with string for a portable (and adorable) bake sale treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Banana Bread Brownies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The brown butter frosting keeps them super moist, so they taste just as fresh on day three as they do when first baked.
Freezing
If you want to save some for later (good luck resisting!), slice the cooled brownies, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap before placing in a freezer bag. They’ll keep well for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature for a perfect anytime snack.
Reheating
To enjoy that just-baked taste, warm a piece of Banana Bread Brownie in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. The frosting gets soft and the white chocolate chips, if you used them, become extra melty and delicious.
FAQs
Can I make Banana Bread Brownies without the frosting?
Absolutely! The brown butter frosting adds a decadent flourish but the bars are still moist and flavorful without it. You can enjoy them plain or dusted with powdered sugar.
What type Dessert
Use very ripe bananas—those deeply speckled with brown or black spots. Their enhanced sweetness and soft texture make the best Banana Bread Brownies.
Can I substitute the sour cream?
Yes, you can use plain Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. It’ll still keep the bars moist and tender with very little difference in taste or texture.
Are nuts and white chocolate chips necessary?
Not at all! The walnuts and white chocolate chips are totally optional. Customize your Banana Bread Brownies to your taste with dark chocolate chips, pecans, or leave them out for simplicity.
How do I know when my brownies are done?
Bake until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Since every oven is different, start checking at 25 minutes and adjust as needed to avoid overbaking.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a dessert that’s nostalgic, easy to make, and sure to impress, these Banana Bread Brownies are the answer. There’s just something magical about that marriage of banana bread softness and brownie indulgence, especially under a glossy layer of brown butter frosting. I hope you’ll give these bars a try and make them a new favorite in your homemade dessert lineup!
Print
Banana Bread Brownies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 brownies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the delightful combination of banana bread and brownies with these moist and flavorful Banana Bread Brownies topped with a luscious brown butter frosting.
Ingredients
For the Banana Bread Brownies:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ ripe bananas (mashed, about ¾ cup)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
For the Brown Butter Frosting:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease or line a 9×9-inch baking pan.
- Prepare the batter: In a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until smooth. Add mashed bananas and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Combine wet and dry ingredients, fold in walnuts and white chocolate chips.
- Bake: Pour batter into the pan, bake for 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Make the frosting: Melt butter in a saucepan until golden brown. Whisk in powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Spread over cooled brownies.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas for a richer flavor.
- Omit the brown butter frosting for a lighter option.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
