What’s your favorite fruit? If you like just a light burst of flavor, you might say raspberries or blueberries. For something more classically American, an apple might be your go-to snack of choice. For those with a more particular palate, maybe you like a tropical fruit like mango or kiwi. In the humble opinion of this writer, however, there’s one fruit that reigns king above them all: the banana. Not only is it a great snack, it’s also the foundation of some of the best desserts.
Obviously, we’ve all had banana bread at some point in our lives. When it’s done correctly, it’s a soft, sweet and delicious treat that can stand as a substitute for a fuller breakfast. Still, most of us probably haven’t had banana bread brownies before—which is exactly what we’re making today. Although the fundamentals of this recipe aren’t that different from the banana bread recipes you know and love, there are a few fun surprises along the way that spice things up a little. So are you ready? Let’s get started.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Brownie:
- 3 mashed bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 1 stick of softened butter
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of sour cream
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)
Frosting:
- 1 stick of melted butter
- 3 cups of powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup of milk
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
Here’s what you do:
1. To begin, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. In the meantime, get out a 9×13-inch baking dish and grease it with cooking spray (or line it with parchment paper). After that, get out your bananas (preferably overripe ones) and mash them in a bowl until they turn smooth. Add your cinnamon and stir everything together.
2. In another bowl, combine your sugar, butter, sour cream and eggs, beating them together with a fork or an electric mixer until they turn creamy. Add your vanilla as well before pouring in your mashed banana mix and combining everything.
3. Get another bowl for your flour, baking soda and salt, pouring them all in and mixing them together. Add the dry ingredients into your wet in three portions, stirring everything together as you go. If you’re using walnuts, add them at this stage as well.
4. Next, pour the batter into your baking dish and spread it around so that it sits evenly. When it’s ready, throw it in the oven to bake for 20 to 25 minutes. When the time is up, do the toothpick test to make sure it’s cooked and set it aside to cool.
5. To make the frosting, get out a sauce pan and melt your butter in it until it turns golden brown. At this stage, start adding your powdered sugar in one cup at a time while whisking. Add your vanilla and milk as well.
6. Keep stirring until the mixture turns thick. When it’s all done, pour your frosting over the banana brownies and spread it around with a spatula. After that, cool it off completely in the fridge and you’ll be ready to serve!
As you can see, the core taste of banana bread is still the basis of this recipe—we’re just kicking it up a notch with some frosting and some extra creaminess! Although the standard banana bread is good for breakfast, this dish is a perfect dessert. If you don’t believe us, just try it for yourself. Have fun with this one and let us know how it all turns out.
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