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Close-up of a pan of freshly baked banana bread brownie bars, showing their fudgy texture

Quick way to grow 5-Star Banana Bread Brownie Bars

These Banana Bread Brownie Bars combine the best of both worlds: the moist, comforting flavors of banana bread and the rich, fudgy texture of brownies. They are quick to make and perfect for a delightful dessert or snack.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 bars
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven
  • 9x13 inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Wire rack

Ingredients
  

Banana Bread Layer

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas about 2-3 medium bananas

Brownie Layer

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Cream Cheese Swirl (Optional)

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For Garnish

  • 1 sliced banana
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate drizzle
  • Pinch sea salt flakes

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan, lining it with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl for the banana bread layer, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract, then stir in the mashed bananas.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

  • Add the wet banana mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
  • Spread this banana bread batter evenly into the prepared baking pan.

Brownie Layer

  • Clean the bowls and then in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt for the brownie layer.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract, then fold in the chocolate chips.

Assemble and Bake

  • Gently spoon the brownie batter over the banana bread layer, spreading it carefully to cover the surface.
  • For an optional cream cheese swirl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth, then dollop over the brownie layer and swirl with a knife.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs but not wet batter.

Cool and Garnish

  • Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting them out.
  • Optionally, garnish with sliced banana, chopped walnuts, chocolate drizzle, and sea salt flakes before serving.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can toast the walnuts before adding them as a garnish. Ensure bananas are very ripe for the best banana bread flavor.