anana Bread Brownies: A Fudgy, Dreamy Delight

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Have you ever been in the kitchen, looking at a bunch of browning bananas and facing a classic baker’s conundrum: do you bake a comforting, spiced banana bread, or give in to the decadent allure of rich, chocolatey brownies? We believe you should never have to choose. That’s precisely why we’ve created the perfect hybrid dessert, bringing together the best of both bakes. Allow us to introduce our spectacular Banana Bread Brownies, a single-tray creation designed to satisfy every possible sweet craving.

This recipe is far more than a simple treat; it’s our go-to solution for those spotty bananas that are past their best. It beautifully marries the moist, dense crumb of a beloved banana loaf with the deep, intense chocolate notes of a classic brownie. The outcome is a wonderfully balanced and utterly irresistible bake that we’re confident will become a new favourite in your home. Let’s pop our aprons on and create something truly wonderful together.

Why You’ll Adore These Banana Bread Brownies

Before we get to the method, let’s explore exactly why this recipe is a must-try. We’ve dedicated many batches to perfecting this bake, and we are thrilled to share our findings with you. Here is why we’re sure you’ll fall head over heels for this fudgy banana brownies recipe:

The Perfect Combination: It’s the dessert crossover you never knew you were missing. You get the comforting, fruity notes of banana bread swirled beautifully into a rich, dark chocolate brownie.
Unbelievably Moist and Fudgy: The mashed bananas do more than simply add flavour; they introduce an incredible amount of moisture, guaranteeing that every single piece is soft, dense, and perfectly squidgy.
Helps Reduce Food Waste: This is our favourite way to give overripe bananas a delicious new lease of life. The darker and more speckled they are, the more flavour they will impart!
Simple and Uncomplicated: We have designed this recipe to be as straightforward as possible. There’s no need for any special equipment—just a couple of bowls, a whisk, and a baking tin will do. It’s ideal for bakers of every experience level.
A Guaranteed Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you’re baking for your family, bringing a treat to the office, or celebrating a special occasion, these brownies are certain to vanish in a flash. They are a certified hit!

Gather Your Ingredients

The foundation of any fantastic bake is a set of quality ingredients. For our banana bread brownies, we are using a mix of traditional brownie staples and banana bread essentials. We always suggest using digital scales for precision, but we have provided cup measurements for convenience as well.

For the Brownie Batter:

180g (¾ cup) unsalted butter, melted
200g (1 cup) light brown soft sugar
100g (½ cup) caster sugar
125g (1 cup) plain flour
65g (⅔ cup) unsweetened cocoa powder
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt
150g (1 cup) dark chocolate chips or chunks

For the Banana Bread Swirl:

2 very ripe, medium-sized bananas, mashed (about 200g)
60g (¼ cup) unsalted butter, softened
75g (⅓ cup) caster sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
125g (1 cup) plain flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
A pinch of salt

Step-by-Step Instructions: Baking Perfect Banana Bread Brownies

Are you ready to make a little kitchen magic? Follow our easy steps to achieve a flawless batch of brownies, time after time. We promise it’s simpler than it appears!

Get Everything Ready: Begin by preheating your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4). Grease a 23cm (9-inch) square baking tin and line it with baking parchment, leaving a slight overhang on the sides. This will help you lift the brownies out later on.
Create the Brownie Batter: In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter with the light brown and caster sugars until they are fully combined. Add the 3 eggs, one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition until the mixture looks glossy. Now, stir in the vanilla extract.
Add the Dry Brownie Ingredients: Sift the plain flour, cocoa powder, and salt directly into your wet mixture. Gently fold with a spatula until everything is just incorporated. It’s important not to overmix—a few remaining streaks of flour are perfectly fine! Lastly, fold through the dark chocolate chips.
Prepare the Banana Bread Swirl: In a separate, medium-sized bowl, cream the softened butter and caster sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. You can achieve this with an electric mixer or simply with a wooden spoon and some elbow grease. Beat in the egg, followed by the mashed bananas, until well mixed.
Add the Dry Banana Bread Ingredients: Sift the plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, and salt over the wet banana mixture. Gently fold all the ingredients together until just combined. Once more, be careful not to overmix the batter.
Assemble the Brownies: Pour approximately two-thirds of the brownie batter into your prepared tin, spreading it into an even layer. Spoon dollops of the banana bread batter across the surface. Then, add spoonfuls of the remaining brownie batter into the gaps between the banana batter.
Make the Swirl Effect: Take a skewer or the tip of a butter knife and gently drag it through the batters a few times. This will create a beautiful marbled pattern. Try not to overdo it, as you want to keep the distinct flavours separate.
Time to Bake: Place the tin into your preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes. To check if it’s done, insert a skewer into the centre of the bake. It should come out with a few moist, fudgy crumbs attached, but no wet batter.
Cool Completely: This is perhaps the most challenging, yet most crucial, step! You must let the brownies cool entirely in the tin before using the parchment overhang to lift them out. If you try to cut them while they’re still warm, they will be too soft and fall apart. For the neatest slices, we suggest chilling them in the fridge for at least an hour before cutting.

Pro Tips for the Best Banana Bread Brownies

We truly want your banana brownie recipe to be a fantastic success. Here are a few expert pointers we have gathered along our baking journey to help ensure your brownies are absolutely flawless.

Use Extremely Ripe Bananas

The secret to achieving a deep, sweet banana flavour lies in using bananas that are well past their prime for eating. We are talking about the ones that are heavily freckled with black spots or are almost entirely black. As bananas ripen, their starches turn into sugars, which makes them much sweeter and more intensely flavoured. For more information, have a look at this fantastic explanation on the science of baking with overripe bananas from King Arthur Baking.

Don’t Overmix the Batters

This is the cardinal rule of baking both brownies and quick breads. Overmixing the batter develops the gluten in the flour, which can result in a tough, cake-like texture rather than the soft, fudgy consistency we are aiming for. You should only mix until the ingredients are just incorporated.

Choose Your Chocolate Wisely

The quality of both your cocoa powder and your chocolate chips will make a significant difference to the final taste. We suggest using a high-quality dark chocolate (with around 70% cocoa solids) to achieve a rich, deep flavour that provides a lovely contrast to the sweetness of the banana.

Variations and Add-Ins to Try

While we believe this recipe is wonderful just as it is, we always encourage you to get creative in the kitchen! Here are some of our favourite ideas for personalising your banana bread brownies:

Add Some Nuts: For a lovely textural crunch, try folding 100g of chopped walnuts or pecans into the brownie batter.
A Peanut Butter Swirl: Gently melt a few tablespoons of smooth peanut butter and swirl it over the top with the banana batter just before baking. The combination of chocolate, banana, and peanut butter is truly divine.
An Espresso Kick: Add one teaspoon of instant espresso powder to the brownie batter. This won’t make it taste of coffee, but it will beautifully intensify the chocolate flavour.
Experiment with Chocolate Chips: Why not swap the dark chocolate chips for milk chocolate, white chocolate, or even butterscotch chips to create a completely different flavour profile? If you enjoy experimenting with add-ins in your bakes, you may also love our Blueberry Heaven Cookies The Definitive Recipe For Soft Chewy Perfection.

Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Bread Brownies

Can I use frozen bananas for this recipe?

You certainly can! Frozen bananas work beautifully in this recipe. Just be sure to let them thaw completely at room temperature first. As they defrost, they will release quite a bit of liquid; we suggest draining this off before you mash them to prevent the batter from becoming too wet.

How do I know when the brownies are perfectly baked?

The skewer test is your most reliable guide here. A skewer pushed into the centre of the brownies should emerge with moist crumbs attached, but not with any wet batter. The edges of the bake should look set and have started to pull away slightly from the sides of the tin. Do remember that they will continue to firm up as they cool, so it’s always better to slightly underbake than to overbake them.

How should I store my banana bread brownies?

You can store your brownies in an airtight container at room temperature, where they will keep well for up to 3 days. Due to the high moisture content from the bananas, they can also be kept in the fridge for up to a week. This will help them stay extra fresh and fudgy.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe can be adapted for a gluten-free diet. We recommend using a high-quality, all-purpose gluten-free flour blend that already contains xanthan gum. Simply substitute the plain flour with the gluten-free blend in a 1:1 ratio. The final texture might be slightly different, but they will be just as delicious.

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Hybrid Bake

And there we have it—a dessert that wonderfully refuses to compromise. Our easy brownie recipe with banana delivers the best of two cherished classics in one scrumptious square. It’s moist, rich, bursting with flavour, and serves as the perfect method for ensuring no banana ever goes to waste. It’s a simple recipe that yields a seriously impressive result, making it perfect for a weekend baking session or a spontaneous treat. If you fancy trying another unique sweet bake, why not give our Almond Joy Cookie Recipe a go next?

We are so genuinely excited for you to try these Banana Bread Brownies and are confident they will bring a massive smile to your face. If you bake a batch, we would love to hear how you get on! Please leave a comment below or tag us in your photos on social media. Happy baking!