Banana Bread Brownies Brown Butter Frosting (Printable)

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

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly grease with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk 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, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly distributed.
04 - Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a spatula. Mix until just combined—do not overmix or the brownies will become tough.
05 - Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 27–32 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely in the pan before frosting.
06 - In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the butter, swirling occasionally, until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma, about 4–5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
07 - In a mixing bowl, combine browned butter, powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat with a mixer or whisk until smooth and spreadable. Add up to 1 more tablespoon milk if the frosting is too thick.
08 - Spread frosting evenly over the completely cooled brownies. Cut into 16 squares and serve. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is incredibly moist and fudgy, unlike any banana bread youve ever tried
  • Brown butter frosting adds a nutty sophistication that makes these feel special enough for company
  • Perfect for using up those bananas everyone lets go past their prime
02 -
  • Letting the brown butter cool for exactly 5 minutes before making frosting prevents it from seize into grainy disappointment
  • Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly, so pull eggs and butter out about 30 minutes before starting
03 -
  • Line your pan with parchment paper that overhangs the edges—this creates handles for easy removal
  • The toothpick test is crucial—a few moist crumbs are fine but wet batter means more time needed

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