Banana Bread Brownies Brown Butter Frosting (Printable)

Fusion of moist banana bread and rich brownies topped with nutty brown butter frosting. Easy 50-minute treat yields 16 squares.

# What You'll Need:

→ Brownie Base

01 - 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, melted
02 - 2 cups (400 g) granulated sugar
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1½ cups (360 g) mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas)
05 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
06 - 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
07 - 1 tsp baking powder
08 - ½ tsp salt

→ Brown Butter Frosting

09 - ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter
10 - 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar, sifted
11 - 2-3 tbsp milk
12 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
13 - Pinch of salt

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the surface.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and granulated sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir to distribute evenly.
04 - Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix—small lumps are acceptable.
05 - Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 27 to 32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan before frosting.
06 - In a saucepan over medium heat, cook butter until it turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly for 5 minutes.
07 - In a mixing bowl, combine the browned butter, powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until smooth and spreadable, adding up to 1 more tablespoon of milk if needed to achieve desired consistency.
08 - Spread frosting evenly over cooled brownies. Cut into squares and serve.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • The texture lands somewhere between fudgy brownie and tender banana bread, so you get the best of both worlds in every bite
  • That brown butter frosting is the kind of thing people will text you about for days afterward
02 -
  • Let the brownies cool completely before frosting, or the butter will melt right off and create a sad, uneven mess
  • The brown butter can go from perfect to burnt in seconds, so stay right by the stove and trust your nose more than the timer
03 -
  • Use ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the deepest banana flavor
  • Let the browned butter cool for at least 5 minutes so it does not melt the powdered sugar when you mix the frosting

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