Banana Bread Brownies

Banana Bread Brownies: Where Comfort Meets Decadence in Every Bite 🍌🍫

Hey there, kitchen adventurers! Mason Hartman here, and I’ve got a confession: I’m a sucker for those sad, overripe bananas sitting on the counter. You know the ones—speckled, fragrant, practically begging to be transformed into something magical. Today? We’re turning those humble heroes into **Banana Bread Brownies**—a cross between your grandma’s cozy banana bread and a fudgy, glazed brownie. Imagine moist, banana-packed bars with crackly edges, topped with a vanilla glaze that seeps into every nook. Perfect for potlucks, midnight snacks, or bribing your kids to clean their rooms. 😉 No fancy skills needed—just a bowl, a whisk, and that beautiful mess we call baking. Ready to make your kitchen smell like a hug? Let’s dive in!

This recipe? It’s pure nostalgia. Picture 8-year-old me, perched on a wobbly stool in my Nonna’s kitchen, watching her mash bananas with furious love. She’d always say, *”Mason, bello, food is alchemy—turn sadness into sweetness.”* Fast-forward to my first tiny apartment, where I’d hoard brown bananas like treasure. One rainy Tuesday, craving both banana bread *and* brownies, I did what any sane, snack-deprived human would: I smashed them together. The result was chaotic—flour on the ceiling, glaze on my cat—but OH, the triumph! That first bite? Pure joy. Now, it’s my go-to when life feels heavy. Because sometimes, you need dessert that tastes like a happy accident.

### What You’ll Need 🧾

Banana Bread Brownies

Print Recipe

Love banana bread? Crave brownies? These Banana Bread Brownies combine the best of both—moist, banana-rich bars topped with a luscious vanilla glaze. Perfect for dessert, brunch, or anytime you need a cozy-sweet treat with a twist!

• Author: Mason Hartman
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Bake time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 40mins
• Yield: 16 bars 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Banana Bread Bars:

1½ cups granulated sugar

1 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

½ cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

3–4 ripe bananas, mashed

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

¾ tsp salt

For the Glaze:

¾ tsp salt

For the Glaze:

4 tbsp butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch pan.

Cream together sugar, yogurt, and butter. Add eggs, bananas, and vanilla.

Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined.

Pour into pan and bake for 25–30 minutes or until golden and set.

For the glaze: melt butter, stir in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth.

Pour warm glaze over slightly cooled bars. Let set, slice, and serve!

Notes

Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or refrigerate for 5

Moist, buttery, and topped with vanilla glaze—these bars are banana bread taken to the next level!

Nutrition

• Calories: 280 per bar
• Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Protein: 3g

**For the Banana Bread Bars:**

• 1½ cups granulated sugar – Sweetens without overpowering the banana. Swap with coconut sugar for caramel notes!
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream – The SECRET to insane moisture! Yogurt adds protein; sour cream brings richness. Vegan? Coconut yogurt works.
• ½ cup butter, softened – Unsalted is best. Can’t do dairy? Vegan butter or coconut oil (solid) nails it.
• 2 large eggs – Binds everything. Flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flax + 5 tbsp water) for egg-free.
• 3–4 ripe bananas, mashed – The spottier, the sweeter! About 1½ cups mashed. *Chef’s tip:* Freeze ripe bananas, thaw, and use the syrupy liquid too.
• 2 tsp vanilla extract – Balances the banana. Splurge on pure vanilla—it’s worth it.
• 2 cups all-purpose flour – Spoon & level to avoid dense bars. Gluten-free? 1:1 GF flour blend rocks.
• 1 tsp baking soda – Lift without baking powder’s tang.
• ¾ tsp salt – Makes flavors pop. Sea salt or kosher, please!

**For the Vanilla Glaze:**

• 4 tbsp butter – Melted into liquid gold. Salted butter adds depth.
• 2 cups powdered sugar – Sift it! No one wants lumpy glaze.
• 1 tsp vanilla extract – Double down on vanilla love.
• 1–2 tbsp milk – Dairy or almond milk. Adjust for drizzle-perfection!

### Let’s Bake! 👩‍🍳

**Step 1:** Preheat your oven to **375°F (190°C)**. Grease a 9×13-inch pan like you mean it—butter or non-stick spray. No sticking allowed! *Why 375°F? Higher heat = caramelized edges + tender centers.*

**Step 2:** In a big bowl, **cream together sugar, Greek yogurt (or sour cream), and softened butter**. Use a hand mixer or muscle power! Beat 2-3 minutes until fluffy and pale. *Chef hack:* Room temp ingredients blend smoother. Cold butter? Grate it!

**Step 3:** **Add eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla.** Mix just until combined—overmixing = tough bars. Lumps? Good! They promise moist pockets. *Pro insight:* Mash bananas with a fork; save the blender for smoothies.

**Step 4:** **Sprinkle flour, baking soda, and salt** over the wet mix. Fold gently with a spatula until *just* incorporated. Batter will be thick and glorious. *Stop before you see no flour streaks!*

**Step 5:** **Pour into your greased pan.** Smooth the top. Bake **25–30 minutes** until golden and a toothpick comes out clean-ish (a few crumbs are okay—they’ll keep cooking!). *Don’t peek before 20 mins—heat escape = sad flat bars.*

**Step 6:** **Cool bars 15 minutes** (glaze loves warm surfaces!). Meanwhile, make the glaze: Melt butter, then whisk in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Start with 1 tbsp milk; add more for a pourable consistency. *Too thin? Add sugar. Too thick? More milk, 1 tsp at a time.*

**Step 7:** **Drizzle glaze over warm bars.** Let it set 30 minutes (or 10 if you’re impatient like me). Slice into squares and try not to eat three at once.

### Serving Up Sweetness 🍴
Serve these beauties warm with a cold glass of milk or hot coffee. For brunch, top with fresh berries and whipped cream. Feeling fancy? Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle for “banana bread brownie à la mode” (yes, it’s a thing now). Stack ’em high on a wooden board for parties—they disappear faster than socks in a dryer!

### Mix It Up! 🔄
1. **Chocolate Chaos:** Fold in 1 cup chocolate chips or swirl melted Nutella into the batter.
2. **Nutty Buddy:** Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for crunch.
3. **Caramel Swirl:** Drop spoonfuls of salted caramel sauce on batter before baking; swirl with a knife.
4. **Spiced Version:** Add 1 tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp nutmeg to dry ingredients.
5. **Vegan Delight:** Use flax eggs, vegan butter, coconut yogurt, and plant-based milk.

Final Thoughts:

Banana Bread Brownies are that sweet spot where nostalgia meets indulgence—comfort food with a little extra flair. They’re the kind of treat that makes your kitchen smell like home and your heart feel a little lighter. Whether you’re baking for a party, a cozy night in, or just because those bananas won’t wait, these bars show up like the dessert equivalent of a best friend: warm, reliable, and just a little wild when the glaze hits. So the next time you’re staring down a bunch of speckled bananas, don’t toss ’em—turn them into something unforgettable. Because sometimes, the best magic happens when you mix a little chaos with a whole lot of love.