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Ultra-Moist Banana Bread Brownies with Brown Butter Frosting

A close-up of a rich, fudgy banana bread brownies square featuring a thick, creamy filling layer.
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This recipe combines the moist, tender texture of banana bread with the rich, fudgy quality of brownies. It uses ripe bananas for deep flavor and is topped with a nutty brown butter frosting for a decadent finish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus 2 tablespoons for frosting
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar, plus 1/2 cup for frosting
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 3 large)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, for frosting
  • 2 tablespoons milk or cream, for frosting

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
  2. Melt 1 cup of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the butter foams and brown bits form at the bottom, giving off a nutty aroma. Remove from heat immediately and set aside 2 tablespoons of the browned butter for the frosting.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining melted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract and mashed bananas until just combined.
  5. Whisk the cocoa powder into the wet ingredients until mostly incorporated. Gently fold in the dry ingredients until just mixed. Do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  6. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, not wet batter.
  7. While the brownies cool completely, prepare the frosting. In a small saucepan, gently reheat the reserved 2 tablespoons of browned butter until liquid.
  8. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and the 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Pour in the warm browned butter and milk. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, if the frosting is too thick.
  9. Once the brownies are completely cool, spread the brown butter frosting evenly over the top. Cut into bars and serve.

Notes

  • Use bananas that are heavily spotted or almost black for the best, sweetest banana flavor in your dessert bars.
  • For a fudgier texture, slightly underbake the brownies by about 2-3 minutes.
  • If you prefer a cream cheese frosting instead, substitute the brown butter and sugars with 4 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup softened butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, beating until smooth.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delicerecipe.com/banana-bread-brownies/