If you’ve ever had a bunch of ripe bananas sitting on your counter and thought “banana bread again?” — you’re in for a treat. These Banana Blondies are everything you love about banana desserts: rich, moist, buttery, and perfectly sweet… but in blondie form. Think of them as banana bread’s cooler, gooier cousin.
This one-bowl dessert is easy to whip up, uses everyday ingredients, and is perfect for bake sales, picnics, or a late-night snack attack. Bonus? It’s family-friendly, kid-approved, and you can make it nut-free, gluten-free, or dairy-free with simple swaps.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
What Makes Banana Blondies So Special?
You might be wondering: What’s the big deal about banana blondies? Well, let’s break it down:
1. Rich, Fudgy Texture
Unlike banana bread, which is more cakey, banana blondies are gooey and chewy — almost like cookie dough meets banana heaven.
2. No Mixer Required
Yep, this is a one-bowl wonder. You can mix everything by hand — perfect for those spontaneous baking moods.
3. Super Versatile
You can add chocolate chips, chopped nuts, swirl in peanut butter, or drizzle on caramel. Want to make it healthier? Use whole wheat flour and reduce the sugar.
4. Great for Any Occasion
Lunchbox treat? ✔️
Easy dessert for guests? ✔️
Midnight snack that hits the spot? ✔️
Ingredients You’ll Need (and Why)
These banana blondies use pantry staples. Here’s what makes each one shine:
1. Ripe Bananas
The star of the show! Use bananas that are deeply speckled or nearly black — the riper, the better for natural sweetness and moisture.
2. Brown Sugar
Gives the blondies a deep, caramel flavor and that signature chewiness.
3. Melted Butter
Helps create a rich, moist texture. You can sub with coconut oil or a dairy-free butter if needed.
4. Egg
Binds everything together. For a vegan option, a flax egg works great here.
5. Vanilla Extract
Enhances all the flavors and adds depth.
6. All-Purpose Flour
The base. You can sub with gluten-free flour if needed.
7. Baking Powder + Salt
A small lift, a little balance — both are essential for flavor and texture.
How to Make Banana Blondies – Step-by-Step
These come together in under 10 minutes of prep time. Here’s how to make the magic happen:
🔹 Step 1 – Prep Your Pan
Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper or grease it lightly with butter or oil.
🔹 Step 2 – Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar. Stir until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Mix well. Then, fold in the mashed bananas.
🔹 Step 3 – Add Dry Ingredients
Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix just until no flour streaks remain. Do not overmix — this keeps the blondies soft and chewy.
🔹 Step 4 – Add Your Optional Mix-Ins
Chocolate chips? Nuts? A dash of cinnamon? Fold them in now!
🔹 Step 5 – Bake
Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes. The edges should be golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean (a few moist crumbs are okay).
🔹 Step 6 – Cool & Slice
Let them cool in the pan before slicing. Trust us — the texture improves as they sit!
Flavor Variations & Pro Tips
Want to jazz up your banana blondies? Here are some fun spins and baker secrets.
✨ Flavor Variations
- Chocolate Chip Banana Blondies: Add ½ cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips.
- Nutty Banana Blondies: Fold in ½ cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds.
- Peanut Butter Swirl: Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter on top before baking and swirl with a knife.
- Spiced Up: Add ½ tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom for warmth.
💡 Pro Tips
- Measure flour correctly: Spoon and level it — don’t scoop, or you’ll pack too much in.
- Use super ripe bananas: Almost-black bananas = flavor gold.
- Cool before cutting: Blondies set as they cool. Cutting too early might make them crumbly.
Storage, Serving & FAQs
🥄 Serving Suggestions
- Warm with ice cream
- With a drizzle of tahini or almond butter
- As a base for a banana sundae
- Cubed into a yogurt parfait
🧺 Storage Tips
- Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for 3 days.
- Fridge: Keep chilled up to 7 days (great cold!).
- Freezer: Freeze individually wrapped for up to 2 months.
❓ FAQs
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes — a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works perfectly.
Can I make these vegan?
Use melted coconut oil or vegan butter, and replace the egg with a flax egg.
What if I don’t have brown sugar?
Use white sugar + 1 tbsp molasses, or use coconut sugar for a natural alternative.
Can I double the recipe?
Totally — use a 9×13 pan and adjust the baking time (around 35–40 mins).
Conclusion
Banana blondies are the perfect balance of chewy, banana goodness with a caramel undertone, and they’re simple to make. Whether you’re using up ripe bananas or just craving something sweet, these blondies are guaranteed to satisfy. They’re quick, versatile, and absolutely delicious — plus, they’re easy to customize!
For more delicious dessert recipes, be sure to check out our Desserts Category on BOLO Recipes.
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Banana Blondies
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Banana Blondies are soft, chewy, and packed with banana flavor. They’re an easy, one-bowl dessert you can whip up in no time. Perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth with the richness of ripe bananas and the goodness of brown sugar. Whether for an after-school snack, a weekend treat, or just because, these banana blondies will become your new favorite indulgence.
Ingredients
2 ripe bananas, mashed
½ cup melted butter (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine melted butter and brown sugar. Stir until smooth. Add the mashed bananas, egg, and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
Add dry ingredients: Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just combined (don’t overmix).
Add mix-ins: If desired, fold in chocolate chips or nuts.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Cool: Let the blondies cool in the pan before slicing into squares.
Notes
Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 7 days in the fridge.
Freezing: Freeze individual squares for up to 2 months. Just thaw at room temperature before serving.
Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend in place of all-purpose flour.
Vegan Option: Replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 2.5 tbsp water), and use coconut oil or a dairy-free butter alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 125mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg