These Chewy Frosted Banana Blondies are a decadent cross between banana bread and a classic blondie, topped with a rich, fudge-like brown sugar frosting. With a dense, chewy texture and the caramelized flavor of brown butter, these bars elevate simple pantry ingredients into a gourmet treat.
Perfect for using up that one lone ripe banana, this small-batch dessert is sweet, satisfying, and impossible to eat just one of.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: The nutty aroma of (optional) browned butter and brown sugar pairs perfectly with the sweet banana, while the cooked frosting adds a deep caramel note.
- Texture: Unlike fluffy banana cake, these bars are intentionally dense and chewy, topped with a frosting that sets into a soft fudge layer.
- Time: 15 minutes prep, 30 minutes bake time, plus cooling.
- Difficulty: Easy. Both the batter and the frosting come together in saucepans, meaning no mixer is required.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need an 8×8 baking dish lined with parchment paper. You will also need a large saucepan for the batter and a medium saucepan for the frosting. A whisk and a rubber spatula are the only tools required for mixing. The ingredients rely on ripe banana, brown sugar, and plenty of butter to create that signature chewy blondie texture.
Ingredient Notes
- Mashed Banana – You need exactly 1/2 cup, which is roughly 1 medium banana. Using too much banana can make the blondies cakey rather than chewy, so measure carefully.
- Butter – Melting the butter creates a dense, fudgy texture. Browning the butter first adds an incredible nutty, toffee-like flavor that complements the banana beautifully.
- Light Brown Sugar – Used in both the blondie base and the frosting, this provides moisture and a rich molasses flavor.
- Flour – Standard all-purpose flour provides the structure. Be sure not to overmeasure or the bars will be dry.
- Powdered Sugar – This thickens the cooked brown sugar mixture into a spreadable frosting that sets as it cools.
- Vanilla – A generous amount enhances the butterscotch notes of the dish.
- Milk – Used to dissolve the brown sugar for the frosting.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Nuts – Chopped walnuts or pecans are a classic addition. Fold 1/2 cup into the batter or sprinkle them over the warm frosting.
- Spice – A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg in the batter adds a cozy warmth.
- Butter – If you don’t want to brown the butter, simply melting it works fine, though the flavor will be milder.
How to Make Chewy Frosted Banana Blondies
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- Make the Batter: In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Optional but recommended: Continue cooking the butter, stirring frequently, until it foams and turns amber in color (brown butter). Allow the butter to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar, vanilla, and salt to combine. Stir in the egg until smooth, and finally fold in the flour and mashed banana.
- Bake: Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Cool: Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool. You will want to frost the blondies when they are mostly cooled.
- Make the Frosting: In a medium saucepan, melt the 1/4 cup butter. Add the brown sugar and milk. Stir over medium heat until the mixture comes to just a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- Whip Frosting: Stir in the powdered sugar with a whisk until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Finish: Spread the warm frosting on top of the blondies. Allow the frosting to set and the blondies to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip the cooling step for the frosting mixture! If you add the powdered sugar to the boiling butter mixture immediately, it can seize or become grainy. Letting it cool for 5 minutes ensures a smooth, creamy finish.
Recipe Tips
- Measure Banana: Stick to the 1/2 cup measurement. Bananas vary in size, and extra moisture is the enemy of a chewy blondie.
- Browning Butter: If you brown the butter, watch it closely. It goes from nutty and amber to burnt in seconds. Use a light-colored pan if possible to see the color change.
- Setting: The frosting sets up quickly as it cools, similar to fudge. Have your offset spatula ready to spread it as soon as you whisk in the powdered sugar.
FAQs
- Why are my blondies cakey? This usually happens if there was too much banana or if the batter was overmixed after adding the flour.
- Can I double this? Yes, double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13 inch pan. You may need to add a few minutes to the baking time.
- How do I store them? Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The frosting keeps the bars moist.
Serving Suggestions
- Coffee: The brown sugar flavors make this the perfect companion for a strong cup of coffee.
- Salt: A tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top of the frosting balances the sweetness beautifully.
- Ice Cream: Serve a warm square with a scoop of butter pecan ice cream.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Freezing: These bars freeze very well. You can freeze the whole slab (frosted) or individual squares. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Storage: They taste just as good the next day, making them a great make-ahead dessert for parties.
Chewy Frosted Banana Blondies
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 9-16 Squares (8x8 Pan) 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Chewy Frosted Banana Blondies are a decadent cross between banana bread and a classic blondie, topped with a rich, fudge-like brown sugar frosting. With a dense, chewy texture and the caramelized flavor of brown butter, these bars elevate simple pantry ingredients into a gourmet treat. Perfect for using up that one lone ripe banana, this small-batch dessert is sweet, satisfying, and impossible to eat just one of.
Ingredients
The Blondie Base
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (browning is highly recommended)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup mashed banana (approx. 1 medium banana)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
The Brown Sugar Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and coat lightly with nonstick spray.
Melt (or Brown) Butter
In a large saucepan, melt the 1/2 cup of butter. Brown Butter Upgrade: Continue cooking the butter over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it foams and turns an amber color with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat immediately.
Cool
Allow the butter to cool for 5 minutes.
Make Batter
Into the slightly cooled butter, stir in the 1 cup brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Mix in the egg until smooth. Fold in the flour and mashed banana until just combined.
Bake
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Cook: Bake for 30 minutes, or until the center is set and a toothpick comes out clean (or with moist crumbs).
Cool
Transfer the pan to a wire rack. Let the blondies cool significantly before frosting.
Make Frosting
In a medium saucepan, melt the 1/4 cup butter. Add the 1/2 cup brown sugar and milk.
Boil
Stir over medium heat until the mixture comes to a gentle boil.
Cool
Remove from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. (Do not skip this, or the frosting will be grainy!)
Whip & Spread
Whisk the powdered sugar into the warm butter mixture until smooth and no lumps remain.
Frost
Immediately spread the warm frosting over the cooled blondies.
Serve
Allow the frosting to set (it firms up like fudge) before slicing into squares.
Notes
Banana Measurement: Precision matters! You need exactly 1/2 cup of mashed banana. Using too much will make the bars cakey and fluffy rather than dense and chewy.
Frosting Timing: Have your offset spatula ready. The frosting sets up quickly as it cools, similar to fudge or pralines, so spread it immediately after whisking in the powdered sugar.
Salt Pairing: Because these are quite sweet, a tiny sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top of the wet frosting creates a beautiful salted caramel flavor profile.
Storage: These keep wonderfully at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The frosting seals in the moisture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert / Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Square (assuming 16)
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: banana blondies, frosted banana bars, brown sugar frosting, browned butter recipes, ripe banana recipes, chewy blondie recipe, dessert bars
