Banana Bread Brownies Brown Butter Frosting (Printer-Friendly)
Fudgy banana-infused bars crowned with nutty 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
# How-To Steps:
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 - In a saucepan over medium heat, cook butter 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 the frosting is 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 the perfect middle ground nobody knew they needed
- Brown butter frosting transforms everyday bananas into something that feels like a small celebration
02 -
- The browned butter can go from perfect to burnt in seconds, so watch closely and trust your nose more than your eyes
- These must cool completely before frosting—I learned this the hard way when my first batch turned into a sad puddle
03 -
- Freeze overripe bananas if you're not ready to bake—just thaw and mash when the mood strikes
- The frosting consistency is perfect when it holds a soft peak but still spreads easily