Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Banana Bread Brownies are a sweet twist on two classic treats, combining the best of banana bread and fudgy brownies. After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping these brownies moist and delicious every time. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy High Protein Pancake Muffins and Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole.
Why This Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves Is Pure Comfort
- Perfectly moist and fudgy texture
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
- Better than takeout, family favorite
- Great way to use overripe bananas
What You'll Need for Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- Optional: Powdered sugar for dusting
- Optional: Fresh berries for serving
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Bananas: The riper the bananas, the better the flavor.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Good quality cocoa powder — Enhances the chocolate flavor → See on Amazon
- Silicon baking mat — Prevents sticking and easy cleanup → See on Amazon
How to Make Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
- Mash bananas: Mash ripe bananas in a large bowl until smooth.
- Cream butter and sugar: Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mix well.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Mix dry into wet: Gradually add dry ingredients to banana mixture, mixing just until combined. Fold in walnuts (if using).
- Bake: Pour batter into prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Cool brownies in the pan for 10 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough brownies. Mix just until combined.
- Tip: For a fudgier texture, underbake the brownies slightly. They will firm up as they cool.
- Tip: Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Storing & Reheating Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Make-ahead tip: Batter can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Freezing Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a fun twist, try adding chocolate chips or peanut butter chips to the batter.
- Best substitution: Substitute the walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: These brownies can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch baking dish for a larger batch.
- Troubleshooting: If the brownies are too dry, try adding a bit more mashed banana to the batter.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality vanilla extract — Enhances the flavor of the brownies → Check price on Amazon
Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Fresh berries for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
- Mash bananas: Mash ripe bananas in a large bowl until smooth.
- Cream butter and sugar: Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mix well.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Mix dry into wet: Gradually add dry ingredients to banana mixture, mixing just until combined. Fold in walnuts (if using).
- Bake: Pour batter into prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and serve: Cool brownies in the pan for 10 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a fun twist, try adding chocolate chips or peanut butter chips to the batter.
- Best substitution: Substitute the walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: These brownies can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch baking dish for a larger batch.
- Troubleshooting: If the brownies are too dry, try adding a bit more mashed banana to the batter.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
- Make ahead: Batter can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Cholesterol: 40mg
- Sat. Fat: 6g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves FAQs
Yes, you can make the batter ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You can also bake the brownies ahead and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Overbaking can cause the brownies to become dry. Try reducing the baking time by a few minutes.
Yes, you can freeze the brownies for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.
No, this recipe is not suitable for the air fryer. It's best to bake these brownies in the oven.
You can substitute the walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different flavor.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
