Banana Bread Brownies

Banana Bread Brownies are the dreamy dessert mashup you didn’t know you needed. They’re ultra-moist like banana bread, with the dense, fudgy texture of brownies, all topped off with a silky, nutty brown butter frosting. It’s banana bread, but make it dessert-bar worthy!

This recipe is one of our go-tos whenever we have ripe bananas sitting on the counter. We love banana bread in every form, but these brownies are something special. That brown butter frosting takes them from “yum” to “can’t-stop-eating-these” real fast.

Looking for more banana-forward treats? You might also love our Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, One-Bowl Banana Cake, or Banana Nut Blondies.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Banana + Brownie Combo: It’s like two desserts in one.
• Brown Butter Frosting: Adds an irresistible rich, nutty flavor.
• One-Bowl Batter: Quick and easy with minimal cleanup.
• Perfect for Ripe Bananas: A delicious way to use those overripe bananas.

Ingredients

We’ve made this list to help you save time on your next trip to the grocery store. You can find the full amounts needed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

This batter comes together with pantry staples like flour, sugar, and eggs, along with a generous helping of ripe bananas. Sour cream is the secret to keeping the brownies super moist, and walnuts add the perfect bit of crunch. The brown butter frosting adds a sweet, nutty finish that sets these bars apart.

Variations

• No nuts: Skip the walnuts if you prefer a smoother texture.
• Add chocolate chips: Toss in ½ cup for a richer dessert.
• Gluten-free: Swap in your favorite gluten-free flour blend.
• Cinnamon twist: Add 1 tsp cinnamon for warm spice notes.

Instructions

This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Mix sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy.

2. Blend in mashed bananas and vanilla.

3. Add dry ingredients, mix, then fold in walnuts.

4. Bake until golden brown.

5. While baking, brown the butter for frosting.

6. Mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Spread frosting over warm bars and enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Use overripe bananas for maximum flavor.
• Frost the bars while they’re still warm for the smoothest spread.
• Don’t overmix the batter; mix just until combined.
• Let the frosting set before cutting into bars for cleaner slices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

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📖Recipe

Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.

Banana Bread Brownies with Brown Butter Frosting

These Banana Bread Brownies are soft, moist, and packed with banana flavor. Topped with a luscious brown butter frosting, they’re the perfect cross between a comforting quick bread and a rich dessert bar. Great for using up ripe bananas or making ahead for gatherings!

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4 from 33 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 16 Brownies

Calories: 511kcal

Author: Rob

Equipment

• Jelly roll pan
• mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Spatula
• medium saucepan

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 4 ripe banana mashed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

Brown Butter Frosting

• ½ cup salted butter
• 3- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar more if needed
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

• Heat oven to 375F. Grease and flour 15×10-inch jelly roll pan.
• In a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy.
• Blend in bananas and vanilla extract.
• Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute.
• Stir in walnuts.
• Spread batter evenly into pan. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Let the butter turn a light golden brown and remove from heat immediately.
• Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk.
• Whisk together until smooth (it should be thicker than a glaze but thinner than frosting). You can add more powdered sugar or milk if needed.
• Using a spatula, spread the brown butter frosting over the warm bars (the frosting will be easier to spread while the bars are still warm).

Disclaimer

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Brownie | Calories: 511kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 71g | Vitamin A: 498IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg