Banana Bread Brownies: The Best of Both Worlds

 

Why You’ll Love These Banana Bread Brownies

• ✅ Rich banana flavor in every bite

• ✅ Moist, soft, and slightly dense like the best brownies

• ✅ Easy, one-bowl batter

• ✅ Perfect way to use up ripe bananas

• ✅ Crowd-pleaser for all ages

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to whip up the banana bars:

For the Banana Bread Brownie Base:

• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar

• 1 cup sour cream

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• 2 large eggs

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ¾ teaspoon salt

Optional:

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (for extra warmth)

• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (for crunch)

For the Brown Butter Frosting (Optional but heavenly!):

• ½ cup unsalted butter

• 4 cups powdered sugar

• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

• 3–4 tablespoons milk

How to Make Banana Bread Brownies

Step 1: Preheat & Prep

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Grease and flour a 9×13-inch baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.

Step 2: Make the Batter

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar, sour cream, and butter until smooth.
Add the eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using).
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until fully incorporated.

Fold in nuts, if using.

Step 3: Bake

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let cool completely before frosting.

Step 4: Make the Brown Butter Frosting (Optional but SO worth it)

In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat until it turns a golden brown and smells nutty—this takes about 4–5 minutes.
Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.

Spread the frosting over the cooled bars.

Serving & Storage Tips

• Cut into squares and serve at room temperature.

• Store in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.

• These bars also freeze beautifully—wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.

Bonus Tips

• Add chocolate chips for a dessert twist!

• Want it lighter? Swap Greek yogurt for sour cream.

• Frost only half if you’re serving a crowd with mixed preferences.

Final Thoughts

These Banana Bread Brownies are a total game-changer. Whether you’re baking for your family, a potluck, or just treating yourself to something sweet, these bars hit all the right notes—rich, moist, and bursting with banana flavor.

Trust me, once you try these, you’ll never look at banana bread the same way again.