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Soft Banana Bread Brownies

Featured in Sweet Treats to Make at Home.

Turn ripe bananas into these moist banana bars with the fudgy feel of brownies. The brown butter frosting gives a rich caramelized flavor, while honey adds sweetness. A mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flours creates a hearty texture, and chopped walnuts add crunch. Perfect for using those bananas about to go bad!
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Updated on Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:45:03 GMT
Soft Banana Bread Brownies Pin it
Soft Banana Bread Brownies | mecooking.com

These gooey, tender banana bread brownies turn those spotty bananas into a mouthwatering snack that blends traditional banana bread taste with the fudgy, satisfying bite of a true brownie. Topped with nutty browned butter icing, this homemade treat goes from simple to stunning.

I've baked these tons of times for family meetups, and I've learned you'll get the best results when you let them cool all the way before adding the frosting. My grandkids always grab for the edge pieces first - they love how the sides get a bit crisp while the middle stays super moist.

Key Ingredients Breakdown

  • Ripe bananas: Go for super spotty, almost black ones for the sweetest, strongest flavor. The softer they are, the better
  • White whole wheat flour: Gives a softer result than standard whole wheat but keeps all the good stuff. Try the King Arthur brand for the best outcome
  • Unsalted butter: Lets you control exactly how salty your brownies get. Fancy European butters work especially well for browning since they've got more fat
  • Local honey: Raw stuff adds interesting sweetness and keeps everything moist. The darker varieties really bring out the banana taste

Brownie-Making Steps

Getting Nuts Ready:
Lightly toast your walnuts until they smell amazing and turn golden, building a rich flavor base throughout.
Making Brown Butter:
Keep an eye on your butter as it turns golden and smells nutty, usually after bubbling gently for 5-7 minutes.
Putting Batter Together:
Mix wet stuff until smooth, then add dry ingredients and stop when you don't see any flour streaks.
Mixing in Nuts:
Fold in those toasted walnuts carefully so they spread evenly without overmixing.
Baking It Up:
You'll know it's done when the sides pull away slightly and the middle bounces back when you touch it.
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Sweet Banana Bread Brownies | mecooking.com

The browned butter part of this treat is what my family can't get enough of. Back when my daughter was little, she always wanted these instead of birthday cake, saying that nutty butter smell reminded her of our Saturday mornings in the kitchen together.

Perfect Pairings

These brownies taste amazing with a scoop of real vanilla ice cream or alongside a hot mug of spicy chai. For breakfast, warm them slightly and add a spoonful of Greek yogurt with a little honey drizzled on top.

Tasty Twists

Switch things up by tossing in chunks of dark chocolate, swirling some peanut butter through the batter, or mixing in toasted coconut for a vacation vibe. If you're feeding folks who can't have gluten, a good quality 1:1 gluten-free flour mix works just as well.

Storage Smarts

Keep these goodies in a glass container with a snug lid, and put wax paper between layers so they don't stick together. They'll stay nice and moist for four days out on the counter or up to three months if you freeze them.

Close-up Banana Bread Brownies Recipe Pin it
Close-up Banana Bread Brownies Recipe | mecooking.com

I've tweaked this recipe for years, and now it's my go-to way to make banana bread extra special. When you mix brown butter, toasted nuts, and super-ripe bananas, you get something that feels fancy but still cozy - exactly what home baking should be about.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Is it okay to freeze these banana bars?
Absolutely! Store them in an airtight container for 3 months in the freezer. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
→ What if I don't have walnuts?
You can swap walnuts with peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or regular chocolate chips in equal amounts.
→ How can I tell when they're baked through?
The edges will brown slightly, and a toothpick poked into the middle should come out clean after 22–25 minutes.
→ How long do they keep fresh?
When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, they're good for up to 3 days.
→ Why is brown butter frosting so great?
It adds a nutty, caramel-like flavor from browning the butter, giving it way more depth than regular frosting.

Banana Bread Brownies

Soft banana squares bring together the flavors of moist banana bread and fudgy brownies, topped off with rich brown butter frosting.

Prep Time
25 Minutes
Cook Time
22 Minutes
Total Time
47 Minutes
By: Mariana

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 16 Servings (16 brownies)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Base Layer for Banana Brownies

01 ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
02 1 large egg
03 ⅔ cup honey
04 1 cup raw walnut halves
05 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
06 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
07 ⅓ cup light or dark brown sugar
08 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
10 1 cup mashed ripe banana (roughly 3 medium bananas)
11 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 1 teaspoon baking powder
13 ¼ teaspoon baking soda

→ Topping: Brown Butter Frosting

14 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
15 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
16 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
17 1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream (or any milk or half-and-half you prefer)

Instructions

Step 01

Warm up your oven to 350°F. Use parchment paper to line an 8×8-inch pan, leaving some overhang on opposite sides, and lightly spray it with cooking spray. On a rimmed tray, bake the walnuts for about 8-10 minutes until they smell nutty, making sure to stir once. Afterward, chop into chunky pieces.

Step 02

In a large mixing bowl, mash your bananas until smooth. In a bright saucepan, heat butter on low-medium until it turns brown and has a rich nutty smell, usually 3-5 minutes. Quickly pour it over the mashed bananas. Whisk in honey and sugar until it's well blended. Let it cool a bit, then whisk in the egg and vanilla.

Step 03

Mix all the dry ingredients in another bowl. Add the dry mixture gradually to the banana blend, folding just enough for no flour bits to remain. Stir in the walnut chunks lightly. Move the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 22-25 minutes. It's ready when the edges are slightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean from the center.

Step 04

In the same saucepan, brown the butter again. Pull it off the heat, then stir in powdered sugar little by little. Add cream or milk a tiny bit at a time until it's easy to spread. Blend in the vanilla at the end. Once the brownies are completely cool, spread the frosting on top and slice them up.

Notes

  1. Swap walnuts for 2/3 cup of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or white chocolate chips.
  2. Keep in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
  3. Can be frozen, whether frosted or not, for up to 3 months.

Tools You'll Need

  • Square baking dish (8×8 inches)
  • Parchment paper
  • Baking sheet with edges
  • Light-colored pot for browning butter
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Flexible whisk
  • Rubber spatula

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Includes nuts (walnuts)
  • Contains dairy (butter, cream)
  • Contains eggs
  • Contains gluten/wheat

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 290
  • Total Fat: 14 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 40 g
  • Protein: 3 g