If banana bread and brownies had a delicious baby, this would be it! These Banana Bread Brownies are soft, chocolatey, and filled with gooey goodness. The best part? You don’t need a mixer, and you only need one bowl! It’s my favorite way to use up ripe bananas and wow, the smell while they bake is amazing!
Method
Mashing the Bananas
Start by peeling your ripe bananas and placing them in a large mixing bowl. Use a fork to mash them until they’re smooth and creamy with only a few small lumps left. The bananas should be nice and soft this makes the base of your brownie batter moist and naturally sweet.
Mixing the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Once your bananas are mashed, add in the brown sugar, cacao powder, creamy nut butter, vanilla extract, and baking powder. Use a spatula or large spoon to stir everything together thoroughly. The batter will start to look rich and chocolatey as everything blends together. Make sure there are no dry spots or streaks of cacao powder left in the mixture. It should look like a thick, glossy batter.
Folding in the Chocolate Chips
Next, it’s time for the fun part chocolate chips! Gently fold in the dark chocolate chips using your spatula. Don’t mix too hard just stir until the chips are spread evenly throughout the batter. If you want an extra chocolatey top, save a small handful of chips to sprinkle on before baking.
Preparing the Baking Pan
Take an 8×8 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper. This makes cleanup easier and helps the banana bread brownies come out of the pan perfectly without sticking. Pour your brownie batter into the lined pan and use the spatula to spread it out evenly, getting it right into the corners.
Baking the Brownies
Now, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once it’s ready, place the baking pan on the middle rack and bake for about 25 minutes. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes every oven is different! To check if it’s done, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out mostly clean or with just a little bit of gooey chocolate, you’re good to go!
Cooling and Cutting
After baking, take the brownies out of the oven and let them cool completely in the pan. This is super important if you try to cut them too early, they might fall apart. Once they’re cooled and set, lift them out using the parchment paper, place them on a cutting board, and slice into 9 squares (or more if you like smaller portions).
Necessary Tools
- 1 large mixing bowl
- Fork (for mashing bananas)
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Rubber spatula or spoon
- 8×8 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Toothpick (for testing doneness)
Banana Bread Brownies A Sweet and Gooey Delight!
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy9
servings10
minutes25
minutes35
minutesIngredients
3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cacao powder
1/2 cup creamy nut butter (like peanut or almond butter)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Directions
- Mash the bananas in a big bowl until they’re smooth and mushy.
- Add the brown sugar, cacao powder, nut butter, vanilla, and baking powder. Mix everything really well.
- Gently fold in the chocolate chips using your spatula. (Save a few for sprinkling on top!)
- Line your baking pan with parchment paper, then pour in the batter.
- Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 25 minutes.
- Check if they’re done by poking a toothpick in the center, it should come out mostly clean!
- Let them cool completely before cutting into squares. This helps them set properly.
Notes
- Make sure your bananas are very ripe brown spots are perfect! Unripe bananas won’t be sweet enough.
- Don’t overmix the batter or the brownies might turn out dense.
- Be careful not to overbake! Check at the 22-minute mark just in case your oven runs hot.
- Let them cool fully before slicing so they don’t fall apart.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
- Enjoy with a glass of cold milk or hot cocoa.
- Pack one in your lunchbox as a sweet treat!
- Add a sprinkle of sea salt on top for a fancy twist.
Fun Fact
Bananas are natural sweeteners, which means you don’t need to use as much sugar. They also help keep baked goods moist and soft. That’s why these brownies stay gooey in the middle yum!
Conclusion
These Banana Bread Brownies are super easy to make, and they taste like a mix of a cozy banana bread and a fudgy brownie. They’re gluten-free (as long as your ingredients are), naturally sweetened, and kid-approved. Give them a try next time you have some ripe bananas hanging out on your counter. I promise they’ll disappear fast!
