Can I make these banana bread brownies without sour cream?

Yes, you can substitute the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt or buttermilk. Both provide a similar tang and moisture, keeping the bars soft and tender.

How ripe should the bananas be for this recipe?

The bananas should be heavily speckled or mostly brown on the outside. The riper the banana, the sweeter and more flavorful your brownies will be.

Can I skip the brown butter frosting?

Absolutely. The brownies are delicious on their own. However, the brown butter frosting adds a rich, nutty depth that elevates the dessert to something truly special.

Can I add chocolate chips or other mix-ins?

Yes. Semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, shredded coconut, or even a swirl of peanut butter can all be added for a fun twist.

Banana Bread Brownies

Name: Banana Bread Brownies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups sugar; 1 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 large eggs; 1 3/4 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 to 4 bananas); 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional); 1/2 cup unsalted butter; 4 cups powdered sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3 tablespoons milk

Description

Moist, rich, and full of flavor, these banana bread brownies blend the comforting sweetness of banana bread with the chewy decadence of brownies. Topped with a luscious brown butter frosting, they make the ultimate quick dessert or snack for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Banana Bread Bars

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 to 4 bananas)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

For the Brown Butter Frosting

1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk

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Instructions

Preheat and Prep the Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease and flour a 15×10-inch jelly roll pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
Cream the Base: In a large bowl, beat together the sugar, sour cream, softened butter, and eggs until the mixture is light and smooth. This creates the rich, fluffy base for the batter.
Add Bananas and Vanilla: Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract until fully combined. Don’t worry if the mixture looks slightly curdled—it will smooth out once the flour is added.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix gently until the batter is just combined. Overmixing at this stage can lead to dense bars.
Fold in Optional Mix-ins: Stir in chopped walnuts if using. You can substitute or omit these based on personal preference.
Bake the Batter: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Make the Frosting: While the bars bake, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Let it cook until it turns a light brown color and smells nutty, then immediately remove from heat to avoid burning.
Whisk the Frosting Together: Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk to the browned butter. Whisk until the frosting is smooth and pourable but thick enough to spread.
Frost While Warm: Spread the frosting over the warm bars with a spatula. It will glide on more easily while the bars are still warm, creating a glossy, even finish.
Cool and Serve: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares or rectangles. Serve at room temperature or slightly warmed for an extra cozy treat.

Notes

You can add chocolate chips, cinnamon, or even a swirl of Nutella into the batter for added flavor. To quickly ripen bananas, bake them at 300°F for 10–15 minutes until blackened. If you don’t have a jelly roll pan, use a 9×13 baking dish and increase bake time by 5 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 220
Sugar: 23g
Sodium: 105mg
Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Unsaturated Fat: 3g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 33g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 25mg