Banana Bread Brownies with Brown Butter Frosting (Printable Version)

Luscious fusion of banana bread and brownies with decadent brown butter frosting

# What You'll Need:

→ Banana Bread Brownies

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

→ Brown Butter Frosting

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each, then stir in mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined—do not overmix.
04 - Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 27-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan.
05 - For the frosting, cook butter in a saucepan over medium heat until it turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly for 5 minutes.
06 - In a mixing bowl, combine the browned butter, powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until smooth and spreadable, adding up to 1 more tablespoon of milk if needed.
07 - Spread frosting over cooled brownies. Cut into squares and serve.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The texture is somewhere between fudgy brownie and tender banana bread, hitting that perfect middle ground nobody knew they needed
  • Brown butter frosting transforms the whole thing into something that feels fancy but takes almost no extra effort
  • They actually get better after sitting overnight, making them ideal for make-ahead treats or unexpected guests
02 -
  • Brown butter can go from perfect to burnt in literally seconds, so have your measuring spoon ready and pull it off the heat as soon as you smell that nutty aroma
  • These brownies must cool completely before frosting or the butter will melt and slide right off the top
  • The batter will look much thinner than typical brownie batter—this is normal and results in that incredibly moist, dense texture
03 -
  • Use the darkest, most spotted bananas you can find—they have way more natural sweetness and banana flavor than yellow ones
  • If your frosting is too thick, warm it in the microwave for 10 seconds and whisk again—this loosens it without adding more liquid

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