Banana Bread Brownies | Cookies and Cups

Sweet and soft banana bread brownies are two favorite desserts in one, bringing together the comforting flavors of homemade banana bread with the fudgy richness of a chocolate brownie. Yes, it’s as indulgent as it sounds!

Love chocolate as much as you love banana bread? Try my chocolate banana bread, too!

Why You’ll Love These Banana Bread Brownies

These banana bread brownies are the ultimate easy dessert for the banana bread lover who’s also chocolate-obsessed. Or, maybe it’s the brownie lover who’s also banana bread-obsessed? Either way, these homemade brownies are totally obsession-worthy. Here’s why:

• The best of both worlds. Gone are the days when you need to choose between fluffy homemade banana bread and perfect fudgy brownies. Now, you can have BOTH!
• Easy. The brownie batter comes together in minutes. It’s a great way to use up overripe bananas, and the rest of the ingredients are common pantry items.
• Rich, fruity flavor. There’s a hint of banana sweetness and cinnamon spice throughout these rich, moist chocolate brownies loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts. The flavor, the soft texture, the touch of crunch… seriously irresistible!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a few baking basics to make these mouthwatering banana bread brownies. I’ve included some notes below. Scroll down to the recipe card for a printable ingredients list.

• Flour – All-purpose flour yields the most consistent results.
• Cocoa Powder – I like to use Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder, but you can use any unsweetened cocoa powder you prefer.
• Baking Powder
• Cinnamon – A touch of cinnamon spice enhances these homemade brownies’ “banana bread” flavor. You can also use nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice, too.
• Salt
• Butter – Melted before you start. I recommend unsalted butter, or you can use salted butter, but consider leaving out any added salt in this case.
• Sugar – Regular granulated sugar or light brown sugar.
• Eggs
• Vanilla – For the best flavor, opt for real vanilla extract over imitation.
• Bananas – The best bananas to mash up for banana bread are overripe bananas (the elderly, spotty kind) and that’s what you’ll use for these brownies as well. The riper, the better!
• Chocolate Chips and Chopped Walnuts – You’ll mix some into the brownie batter, and sprinkle the rest over top before baking.

How to Make Banana Bread Brownies

Like my pecan pie brownies and cheesecake brownies, this banana bread brownie recipe is a delectable mash-up of two classic desserts. Here’s a step-by-step showing how easy they are to make! You’ll find printable instructions in the recipe card.

• Mix the dry ingredients. Start by whisking the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl.
• Mix the wet ingredients. Cream the melted butter and sugar together separately, and then add the eggs and vanilla. Finally, fold in mashed banana.

• Combine. Next, add the dry ingredients to the wet batter and stir until they’re just combined. Stir in about a ½ cup of chocolate chips and chopped nuts.

• Bake. Spread the brownie batter in a 9×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake your banana bread brownies at 350ºF for 30-35 minutes, and let the brownies cool completely before you slice them.

Recipe Tips and Variations

I’ve made a LOT of brownies throughout the years, and this recipe might just be one of my favorites. Below are my pro tips for the absolute best homemade banana bread brownies, plus some easy variations:

• Use ripe bananas. Just like when you’re baking a traditional banana bread loaf, the ripest bananas have the best sweetness. The bananas you use should be spotted or streaked with brown, and smell fragrant.
• Test the brownies for doneness. Stick a toothpick into the center of your brownies as they near the end of the baking time. If the toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs, the brownies are done.
• Don’t overbake. Overbaked brownies will be dry and crumbly. 
• Give these brownies extra oomph. Serve your banana bread brownies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or homemade ice cream) and a drizzle of caramel sauce or fudge sauce.
• Different nuts. Replace the walnuts in this recipe with roughly chopped pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, or macadamia nuts. Leave the nuts out altogether if you’re making these brownies nut-free.

How Can I Ripen Bananas In a Hurry?

If you’re already craving banana bread brownies, but find yourself without any ripe bananas, let’s fix it! The fastest way to brown bananas is to use your oven. Preheat the oven to 300ºF, and place your bananas on a lined baking sheet. Bake the bananas for 15-20 minutes, until they’re browned all over.

A second, slightly less quick option is to place the bananas in a paper bag along with an apple. Loosely close the bag and let it sit out on the counter. Apples release ethylene, a gas that helps fruit ripen quicker. Your bananas should be browned within a day or two.

How to Store Banana Bread Brownies

• To store. Store these brownies in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.
• Freeze. To freeze your banana bread brownies, wait until they’re completely cool, and then store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Place a piece of parchment paper between any layers. Freeze the brownies for up to 2 months and thaw them at room temperature.

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