This Banana Bread Brownies recipe turns ripe bananas into soft, moist dessert bars with the comforting flavor of homemade banana bread. They have a tender, slightly dense crumb, plenty of banana flavor, and just enough sweetness to make them feel like a special treat.
Perfect for using up overripe bananas, these easy banana brownies require simple pantry ingredients and come together without complicated techniques. Enjoy them plain, add chocolate chips or walnuts, or finish them with brown butter icing for an extra-rich dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These banana bread brownies combine everything you love about moist banana bread with the easy-to-slice convenience of dessert bars. The sour cream keeps the crumb tender, while melted butter and ripe bananas create a rich, comforting flavor.
They are also wonderfully flexible and family-friendly. Keep them simple for an everyday snack, fold in mini chocolate chips for extra sweetness, add walnuts for crunch, or swirl in peanut butter before baking.
Ingredients
- 2–3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips, optional
- Peanut butter for swirling, optional
- Brown butter icing, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Place the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl and mash until mostly smooth.
- Add the melted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Whisk until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture. Gently fold until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Fold in chopped walnuts or mini chocolate chips if desired. For a peanut butter variation, gently swirl a few spoonfuls through the batter.
- Spread the Banana Bread Brownies recipe batter evenly in the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan. Add brown butter icing if desired.
- Slice into squares or bars and serve.
Tips & Tricks
Use bananas with plenty of brown spots for the strongest natural sweetness and banana flavor. Mash them thoroughly if you prefer a smooth, uniform crumb.
Measure the flour carefully using the spoon-and-level method. Too much flour can turn otherwise moist banana brownies dry or cakey.
Once the flour goes into the bowl, mix only until you can no longer see dry streaks. Overmixing develops the gluten and can make the bars tougher.
For fudgy banana bread brownies, watch the baking time closely. Remove them once the center is set rather than continuing to bake until the edges become dry.
Let the bars cool completely before slicing or frosting. This gives the crumb time to set and produces cleaner squares.
Details
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
Total Time: 40–45 minutes, plus cooling
Yield: About 15–18 brownies
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American-inspired
Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Notes: Vegetarian and halal-friendly when using halal-certified ingredients where applicable
Notes
Mini chocolate chips make these easy banana brownies sweeter and more dessert-like, while walnuts add texture and a slightly nutty flavor. You can also combine the two.
For an indulgent finish, spread cooled brownies with brown butter icing. They are equally delicious unfrosted with coffee, tea, or a cold glass of milk.
Greek yogurt can replace sour cream in a pinch. Use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt for the closest texture.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per serving, based on 18 servings without optional toppings or add-ins:
Calories: 190–220
Protein: 3 g
Carbohydrates: 31 g
Fat: 7 g
Actual nutrition will vary according to banana size, ingredient brands, serving size, and optional additions.
FAQ
What are banana bread brownies?
Banana bread brownies are soft dessert bars that combine the sweet banana flavor and tender crumb of banana bread with the convenient shape and richness of brownies. Despite the name, they do not have to contain chocolate.
How ripe should bananas be for banana brownies?
Very ripe bananas are best. Look for deep yellow bananas covered with brown spots. The riper fruit provides more sweetness, moisture, and concentrated banana flavor.
How do I make moist banana brownies?
Use very ripe bananas, measure the flour accurately, and avoid overmixing or overbaking. Sour cream also helps this Banana Bread Brownies recipe stay tender and moist.
Can I add chocolate chips to banana bread brownies?
Yes. Mini or regular chocolate chips work well and turn the bars into delicious banana chocolate chip brownies. Fold them gently into the batter immediately before baking.
Can I make banana bread brownies with walnuts?
Absolutely. Chopped walnuts add crunch that contrasts nicely with the soft banana crumb. Pecans are another good option.
Why are my banana brownies dry?
Dry brownies are often caused by too much flour or excessive baking. Measure flour carefully and begin checking the center around the 25-minute mark.
Storage
Store completely cooled banana bread brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate them for about 5 days. Refrigeration is recommended for frosted bars containing ingredients that require chilling.
For longer storage, wrap individual unfrosted bars well and place them in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2–3 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
To enjoy them warm, microwave an individual unfrosted brownie for approximately 10–15 seconds.
Similar Recipes
Banana Bread Brownies recipe
Ingredients
- 2 –3 very ripe bananas mashed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts optional
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips optional
- Peanut butter for swirling optional
- Brown butter icing optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Place the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl and mash until mostly smooth.
- Add the melted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Whisk until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture. Gently fold until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Fold in chopped walnuts or mini chocolate chips if desired. For a peanut butter variation, gently swirl a few spoonfuls through the batter.
- Spread the Banana Bread Brownies recipe batter evenly in the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan. Add brown butter icing if desired.
- Slice into squares or bars and serve.
Notes
Conclusion
This Banana Bread Brownies recipe is an easy way to transform ripe bananas into soft, buttery dessert bars the whole family can enjoy. With a moist crumb and plenty of banana flavor, they are delicious even without frosting.
Keep the recipe classic or customize your batch with walnuts, chocolate chips, peanut butter, or brown butter icing. Either way, it is a simple homemade banana dessert worth saving for the next time a few bananas become beautifully overripe.