Banana Bread Brownies

Oh yes — Banana Bread Brownies are the ultimate mashup: fudgy, moist, banana-rich bars with the chew of a brownie and the cozy flavor of banana bread. Here's a dreamy recipe that'll make your kitchen smell amazing:

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🍌🍫 Banana Bread Brownies

🍽️ Makes: 9–12 bars

⏱️ Total time: ~45 minutes

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📝 Ingredients:

For the Brownie Base:

• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2–3 bananas)

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• ¾ cup light brown sugar

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp cinnamon (optional)

• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

• ½ cup chocolate chips (or more — go wild!)

Optional Cream Cheese Swirl (for extra decadence):

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened

• 2 tbsp sugar

• 1 egg yolk

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

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👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Preheat & Prep

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

• Grease or line an 8x8" baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Make the Brownie Batter

1. In a large bowl, mix mashed bananas, melted butter, and both sugars until smooth.

2. Add egg and vanilla; mix well.

3. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using).

4. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts, if using.

3. Optional: Cream Cheese Swirl

• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese with sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth.

4. Assemble

• Pour banana batter into the prepared pan.

• If using cream cheese swirl, dollop on top and swirl gently with a knife or toothpick.

5. Bake

• Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.

• Don’t overbake — you want that brownie softness.

6. Cool & Serve

• Let cool in the pan for at least 15–20 minutes before slicing into bars.

• Store leftovers tightly covered at room temp for up to 3 days (or refrigerate for extra chewiness!).

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✨ Tips:

• Add a drizzle of chocolate ganache or dust with powdered sugar for flair.

• For a richer chocolate vibe, mix in 2 tbsp cocoa powder and reduce flour slightly.

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Want a gluten-free version or one with a full-on chocolate brownie base + banana swirl? I can whip that up too.