Banana Bread Brownies With Brown Butter Frosting (Printable version)
Super-moist bars combining banana bread and brownies, topped with nutty brown butter frosting for an irresistible dessert.
# Ingredient List:
→ Banana Bread Brownies
01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas)
05 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
06 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 tsp baking powder
08 - ½ tsp salt
→ Brown Butter Frosting
09 - ½ cup unsalted butter
10 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2-3 tbsp milk
12 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the surface.
02 - Whisk together melted butter and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.
03 - Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla extract until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
04 - In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution.
05 - Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain tender texture.
06 - Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 27–32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan before frosting.
07 - Cook butter in a saucepan over medium heat for 4–5 minutes, swirling frequently, until golden brown with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
08 - Combine the browned butter, powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until smooth and spreadable, adding up to 1 additional tablespoon of milk if necessary for desired consistency.
09 - Spread frosting evenly over the cooled brownies. Cut into squares and serve immediately or store in an airtight container.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- These bars manage to be incredibly moist like banana bread while still having that dense, fudgy satisfaction of brownies
- The brown butter frosting takes five minutes but transforms something simple into something people cannot stop talking about
02 -
- Let the browned butter cool for exactly 5 minutes or it will melt your powdered sugar into a strange glaze instead of frosting
- These must cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt right off and you will have a sad situation
03 -
- Mash your bananas with a fork instead of a blender to keep small bits of fruit for texture
- If your browned butter smells burnt instead of nutty, start over because you cannot fix it