Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Banana bread brownies are the ultimate treat for banana lovers. After making these many times, I discovered the trick to getting the perfect texture: use very ripe bananas and don’t overmix the batter. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast Casserole and Baked Potato Soup.
Why This Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves Is Pure Comfort
- Moist and dense like banana bread, fudgy like brownies
- One bowl, easy recipe with simple ingredients
- Perfect for banana lovers, better than takeout
- Great for using 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.
- ripe bananas
- sugar
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- baking soda
- salt
- chocolate chips
- vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon
- Optional: powdered sugar
- Optional: whipped cream
- Optional: ice cream
📝 Ingredient Notes
- bananas: The riper the bananas, the better the flavor and texture.
- cocoa powder: Use natural unsweetened cocoa powder for a rich, deep flavor.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer — Makes mixing the batter a breeze → See on Amazon
- Silicone Spatula — Helps scrape every last bit of batter into the pan → See on Amazon
How to Make Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan and set aside.
- Mash bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Stir in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Mix batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before slicing.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overmix the batter. This can lead to tough brownies. Mix just until combined.
- Substitution tip: You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free alternative to make these brownies gluten-free.
- Storage tip: Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Serving tip: Serve these brownies warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent treat.
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: You can prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days
Freezing Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Freeze for up to 3 months
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Using very ripe bananas ensures a moist and flavorful brownie.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch pan for a larger batch.
- Troubleshooting: If the brownies are still soft in the center after baking, try covering the pan with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning.
Want to level up this recipe?
Parchment Paper — Lining the pan with parchment paper makes it easy to lift the brownies out of the pan and prevents sticking → Check price on Amazon
Banana Bread Brownies: A Sweet Twist Every Banana Lover Craves
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- ripe bananas
- sugar
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- baking soda
- salt
- chocolate chips
Seasonings
- vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon
Optional Toppings
- powdered sugar
- whipped cream
- ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan and set aside.
- Mash bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Stir in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Mix batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before slicing.
Notes
- Chef tip: Using very ripe bananas ensures a moist and flavorful brownie.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13-inch pan for a larger batch.
- Troubleshooting: If the brownies are still soft in the center after baking, try covering the pan with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning.
Storage
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10-15 minutes
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds
- Make ahead: You can prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Cholesterol: 35mg
- Sat. Fat: 1g
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 prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. Or, you can bake the brownies ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
This could be due to overmixing the batter or using bananas that weren't ripe enough. Always use very ripe bananas and mix the batter just until combined.
No, this recipe is not suitable for the air fryer. It's best to bake these brownies in the oven as directed.
You can substitute the chocolate chips with chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even a handful of chocolate-covered pretzels for a fun twist.
Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free alternative to make these brownies gluten-free.
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!
