If you've got a couple of ripe bananas on the counter and some cocoa powder in your pantry, you're only a few steps away from the most irresistible treat: banana brownies. These fudgy brownies combine the richness of chocolate with the natural sweetness of bananas, making them the perfect twist on a classic dessert.
They're soft, gooey in the center, and just the right amount of chocolatey. Honestly, they taste like banana bread and brownies had the best kind of dessert baby.
If you love this idea, you'll also want to check out my chocolate chip banana bread - another way to use up ripe bananas in the sweetest way.
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why you'll love these banana brownies
- They're extra moist thanks to mashed bananas
- You only need one bowl and simple pantry staples
- The flavor is rich with chocolate but balanced by banana sweetness
- They bake in under 30 minutes, which means dessert comes together fast
ingredients you'll need
Here's everything that goes into these easy banana brownies:
- Unsalted butter
- Semi-sweet chocolate bar or chips
- Light brown sugar
- Large eggs
- Large bananas - Mash and measure 1 cup (about 2 medium ripe or overripe bananas)
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Salt
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Pro tip: the more ripe your bananas are, the sweeter and more flavorful your brownies will turn out.
how to make banana brownies from scratch
Making banana brownies is a simple process, and the whole thing comes together in under an hour. Here's how to do it step by step.
step 1: prep the bananas
Mash your ripe bananas in a small bowl until smooth, then measure out 1 cup.
step 2: prep the oven and pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, or lightly spray with non-stick spray.
step 3: make the chocolate mixture
In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter with 4.5 oz of semi-sweet chocolate (chopped bar or chips). Microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring each time, until melted and smooth.
step 4: add wet ingredients
Stir in the brown sugar, eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla. Mix until smooth and glossy.
step 5: fold in dry ingredients
Add flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir until just combined - don't overmix. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
step 6: bake
Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center looks soft.
step 7: cool and slice
Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before lifting them out and slicing into squares. This helps them hold their shape.
tips for the fudgiest brownies
- Use overripe bananas for maximum sweetness and moisture
- For gooier brownies, pull them out of the oven when a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs
- Add extra chocolate chips or even chopped nuts for texture
- Don't skip cooling - they'll firm up as they rest
serving ideas
These brownies are amazing straight from the pan, but here are some fun ways to dress them up:
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Dust lightly with powdered sugar
- Add a drizzle of peanut butter on top (my kids love this)
- Pair with fresh strawberries for a lighter balance
storage and freezing
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days
- For longer storage, freeze individually wrapped squares for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving
faq about banana brownies
can i use frozen bananas?
Yes, just thaw them first and drain any extra liquid before mashing.
how do i make them extra fudgy?
Bake for a few minutes less so the center stays gooier.
can i add nuts?
Definitely. Walnuts or pecans make a great crunchy addition.
what if i don't have cocoa powder?
You can replace it with extra melted chocolate, but reduce the butter slightly so it's not too oily.
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Print📖 Recipe
Easy Banana Brownie Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 16 brownies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These fudgy banana brownies are the perfect combo of rich chocolate and sweet ripe bananas. Soft, gooey, and packed with flavor, they're like banana bread and brownies had a dessert baby!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4.5 oz semi-sweet chocolate bar or chocolate chips
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mash ripe bananas in a small bowl until smooth and measure out 1 cup.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter with chocolate in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
- Stir in brown sugar, eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.
- Add flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Stir until just combined, then fold in chocolate chips.
- Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until edges are set and center looks soft.
- Cool completely in pan before slicing into squares.
Notes
Use overripe bananas for best flavor. For extra gooey brownies, bake slightly less. Add nuts or more chocolate chips for texture. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 70mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
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