Description
Deliciously moist banana bread brownies combine the rich flavors of ripe bananas with a tender, cakey texture and a luscious browned butter frosting. This easy-to-make dessert blends the best of banana bread and classic brownies for a crowd-pleasing treat perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- 1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 3-4 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 cup chopped walnuts
For the Frosting
- 1⁄4 cup butter
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- Make the brownie batter: In a large bowl, beat together the granulated sugar, sour cream, softened butter, and eggs until the mixture is creamy and well combined. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract until evenly mixed.
- Add dry ingredients: Sift the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt into the wet mixture. Gently fold everything together with a spatula until just combined. Then fold in the chopped walnuts evenly throughout the batter.
- Bake the brownies: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the brownies cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
- Prepare the frosting: While the brownies cool, melt the ¼ cup butter in a large pan over medium heat. Stir frequently and cook until the butter boils and develops a rich browned color and nutty aroma. Immediately remove the pan from heat and transfer the browned butter to a large bowl to stop cooking.
- Finish the frosting: To the browned butter in the bowl, add half of the powdered sugar, the vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Whisk vigorously until smooth. Add additional powdered sugar and milk as needed to achieve a spreadable frosting consistency.
- Frost and serve: Spread the warm frosting evenly over the warm banana bread brownies. Slice into bars and serve immediately to enjoy the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or omit nuts entirely for a nut-free version.
- Use very ripe bananas for the sweetest and most flavorful brownies.
- The browned butter frosting adds a lovely nutty depth; watch carefully to avoid burning the butter.
- Store leftover brownies tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend with xanthan gum.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
