If I'm right, the one add on ingredient which I have used the most is in my baking recipes is banana. I have a huge collection of banana baking recipes in this blog. Each and every time it turns out absolutely great, especially when paired with chocolate, like this vegan banana chocolate cake, or the decadent banana Nutella muffins and many more.
Even though I have a gluten-free banana brownies recipe here, I was missing a regular banana brownie recipe and also a peanut butter chocolate brownie recipe.
While looking for brownie recipes using banana and peanut butter I came across a few "chunky monkey banana" recipes which sounded and looked interesting. One of it was a type of brownie recipe with lots and lots of chocolate and peanut butter chips. I changed the recipe quite a bit to incorporate the ingredients I had at hand and it turned out to be banana blondies instead of chunky monkey brownies.
Took this recipe as a base and made it eggless by using buttermilk as an egg substitute. I included unsweetened coconut flakes, walnuts too in the batter and these chunky monkey banana blondies turned out decadent and delicious.
The banana blondies had a soft, cake-like texture with the perfect sweetness from the semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. I actually wanted to make it a chunky monkey banana brownie recipe by incorporating more chocolate chips in the batter like this recipe, but completely blanked out about the measurement of chocolate chips that has to go in the batter and just added ¼ cup as against the 12 oz mentioned in that recipe.
That's why it turned out to be a banana blondie recipe instead of a banana brownie recipe but let me tell you that this was the best banana blondie recipe ever. No regrets about the taste or texture whatsoever.
How To Make Banana Blondies?
Here are the step-by-step pictures for making banana blondies:
Recipe
Chunky Monkey Banana Blondies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 large banana, half mashed and half cut up into pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup peanut butter chips
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper or foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the melted butter and sugars. Mix until combined.
- Add buttermilk and vanilla, mix until fully incorporated.
- Next add the mashed banana and banana chunks. Mix it in until well combined.
- Now add the flour, baking soda and salt.
- Stir just until combined without over mixing.
- Mix in the coconut, ¼ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and walnuts. (See My Notes)
- Pour the batter into greased pan. Top it with the remaining ¼ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Bake for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Remove the pan from the oven and cool it on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before cutting.
- Lining the pan with aluminum foil makes it easier to lift it off the pan quickly and cutting easier.
- Cut into 9 large bars or 16 small squares. Store covered in fridge for up to 1 week.
My Notes
- I forgot to add in the chocolate chips at first in the batter and that's why it's not shown in the picture. I realized it after I prepared the batter and so added it later.
- This chunky monkey banana blondie recipe can be doubled to be baked in a 9x13 inch pan.
Deepa says
Hi Madhu,
Thanks for the lovely recipe, little change to suppress banana over powering flavour cake. We like banana to eat rather cake. But had 4 over riped banana. So Baked in 9*13 pan for 33 mins.
1) Added 2 tsp flaxseeds powder+4tsp for more softer version
2) 1 tsp instant coffee + 1 tsp water
I must say, I can just blindly believe your recipe for any guest dinner.
Keep experimenting and share your love.
Again thanks a bunch. Believing my hands on baking.
Madhuram says
That's so nice of you, Deepa. Thank you very much for the encouraging words.
Mona says
Why are we not adding baking powder in Blondies?
Madhuram says
Brownies and blondies do not need to rise as much as cakes or doesn't have to be light and fluffy as cupcakes. That's why we are not using baking powder.
Athi says
When it comes to baking with bananas you are definitely a queen to do so Madhuram.
Worth recipe to try:))
Madhuram says
Haa..haa..thanks Athi.
Allie says
If I double the recipe how does that affect the cooking time ?
Madhuram says
If you double the recipe I think you will have to use a bigger pan, maybe a 13x9 inch pan and I think 30-35 minutes should be fine.
Sophia says
Awesome