Banana Bread Brownies

These banana bread brownies with brown butter frosting are sweet, tender, and oh-so-tasty.

They’re deliciously dense and fudgy and jam-packed with sweet banana flavor. 

But the crowning glory is the brown butter frosting, which is like a hug for your tastebuds!

They’re like two of your favorite treats in one incredible bite.

So, serve them for breakfast or a sneaky midnight snack. Either way, these banana bread brownies are true show-stoppers.

Banana Bread Brownies

Full disclosure: banana bread brownies aren’t technically brownies. After all, there’s no chocolate involved.

Instead, this recipe is pure banana goodness packed into a brownie form.

And they’re simply sublime. 

You’ll love the natural sweetness of the bananas. And when it’s paired with the richness of the brown butter frosting, you get the perfect, addictive bite. 

The texture is soft and fudgy, like a brownie with a slight crunch from walnuts.

Here’s the kicker: this recipe is ridiculously easy! Whip up the base, slather on the frosting, and you’re done in less than an hour. 

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to whip these babies up:

For the Banana Bread Brownies

• Granulated Sugar – The sweet foundation that balances the flavors and adds tenderness to your brownies.
  
• Sour Cream – This tangy addition keeps the brownies moist and gives them a subtle depth of flavor.
  
• Butter – The fat that adds richness and helps make the brownies tender.
  
• Eggs – The binding agent that also helps to give the brownies structure and lift.
  
• Ripe Bananas – The star ingredient provides natural sweetness, moisture, and classic banana flavor. Be sure they’re ripe for extra sweetness!
  
• Vanilla Extract – A splash enhances the flavors.
  
• All-Purpose Flour – The backbone ingredient, providing structure to your brownies.
  
• Baking Soda and Salt – To give them a lift and balance the sweet flavors.
  
• Chopped Walnuts – For a nutty crunch that complements the softness of the brownies.

For the Brown Butter Frosting

• Butter – Browned to perfection, it’s the flavorful base that makes this frosting extra special.
  
• Powdered Sugar – It adds sweetness and helps make the frosting smooth and spreadable.
  
• Vanilla Extract – The ultimate flavor enhancer.
  
• Milk – It thins out the frosting to your desired consistency and adds creaminess.

How to Make Banana Bread Brownies

If you can make regular banana bread, you can make these banana bread brownies.

Here’s a quick overview of the steps. Jump to the bottom for the full method!

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a pan with parchment paper.

2. Combine the sugar and wet ingredients. Beat in a large bowl until the mixture’s nice and creamy, then stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract.

3. Mix in the dry ingredients. Do this by hand with a rubber spatula and stop as soon as you no longer see streaks of flour.

4. Bake the brownies for 30-35 minutes, or until they’re golden brown on top. Let them cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before you frost them.

5. Make the frosting. Heat the butter until it browns, cool, then whisk with the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth and well combined.

6. Assemble, serve, and enjoy! Spread the browned butter frosting evenly onto the brownies while still warm. Slice and dig in!

Tips & Variations

Try these easy tips and recipe tweaks to take your brownies over the top.

• Give the brownies a chocoholic twist. Ditch the walnuts and fold in 2/3 cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
  
• Go the eggless route. Replace the egg with a flax egg or an extra 1/4 cup of mashed ripe banana. I haven’t tested this, but it’s worth a try!
  
• Cut the sugar in half. Cut down on sugar by using half the amount. Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt.
  
• Make gluten-free brownies. Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose.
  
• Go nuts with nuts. Add more nuts like almonds and pecans. Mix them in the batter or sprinkle them on top.
  
• Spice it up. Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter.

• Try cream cheese frosting. Swap brown butter frosting with cream cheese frosting.
  
• Drizzle them with caramel syrup. It gives them a touch of decadence.
  
• Go bananas. Add sliced bananas on top before serving. 

How to Ripen Bananas

Are your bananas not ripe enough yet? No problem. Here’s how to speed up the process:

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Bake unpeeled bananas for 10 minutes. Flip and bake them for another 10 minutes.
3. Let them cool before peeling and mashing.

How to Store & Freeze Banana Bread Brownies

I don’t usually have leftover banana bread brownies because I have very little self-control. They’re so tasty, I just can’t resist a second (or third) piece.

But when I do have leftovers, here’s how I store them so they last as long as possible:

To Store: Allow the banana bread brownies to cool completely, then store them in an air-tight container. They’ll keep well at room temperature for up to 4 days.

To Freeze: Arrange the cooled brownies (frosted or unfrosted) in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze for an hour until solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe container with a piece of parchment paper in between layers. Freeze for up to 4 months.

Let the brownies thaw in the fridge overnight. Or, set them on the counter to thaw for an hour or two.

Bonus: How to Freeze Bananas

• Peel the bananas and chop them into about half-inch rounds.
• Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours or until solid.
• Place the frozen slices in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.

More Banana Recipes You’ll Love

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Banana Pudding Poke Cake
Banana Pudding Cookies