Banana Bread Brownies combine your favorite banana bread flavor with the sweet taste of a banana sheet cake and are topped with a warm brown butter frosting.
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar, until combined and fluffy.
Add the eggs, mashed banana, buttermilk and vanilla and mix well.
Gradually add the flour mixture into the banana mixture, mixing until well combined.
Stir in the chopped walnuts.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 20 minutes, until the edges are golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs.
Frosting:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and cook until it is a golden brown, and has a nutty aroma. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the powdered sugar, half and half cream and vanilla.
Using a silicone spatula spread the frosting over the warm banana brownies.
Notes
Storage:These banana bread brownies will last for up to 4 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.To freeze these banana bread brownies, place them into a freezer safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw them, place them on the kitchen counter at room temperature for about 1 hour.Notes:Start making the frosting when you remove the banana bread brownies from the oven so that they will be warm but not too hot when you frost them.These banana bread brownies are moist and dense. If you prefer a more cake like texture bake them for 25 minutes or until there are no crumbs when you test with a toothpick.This recipe will work fine if you want to leave out the nuts because of allergies or you simply are not a fan of nuts.Mini chocolate chips make a great addition if you love chocolate. Add ¾ cup instead of the walnuts or in addition to the walnuts.PRO TIP:If you don't want to wait for the perfect window when your bananas are perfectly ripe for baking, you can follow these instructions. To ripen bananas in the oven, bake them on parchment paper on a baking sheet at 300°F for 30-40 minutes until they are darkly blackened and soft to the touch. You can also speed up the cooling process by opening them and gently mashing them in a big bowl to help heat escape more quickly. Be sure to let them cool before adding to your batter. PRO TIP: These banana bread brownies are moist and dense. If you prefer a more cake-like texture, bake them for 25 minutes or until there are no crumbs when you test with a toothpick.PRO TIP: Start making the frosting when you remove the banana bread brownies from the oven so that they will be warm but not too hot when you frost them.