Banana Fudge Brownies were a third place winner in the Minnesota State Fair. How do I know? Because my friend Gloria Rice won the ribbon! Gloria enters the fair every year and is always perfecting her recipes. She told me about the banana brownies, and to be honest I was skeptical as to whether bananas could really enhance brownies. But in this recipe they do.
Banana Fudge Brownies Flavor and Texture
The banana flavor melds perfectly with the chocolate and is not overwhelming. It also makes the texture a little softer, and in a good way. For variations, you can add Oreos or swirl peanut butter through the top. Here's the Oreo version of Banana Fudge Brownies. Next time I make a batch with peanut butter swirled through, I'll post a photo.
Recipe
Banana Fudge Brownies
Gloria’s State Fair Chocolate-Banana Brownies
Ingredients
- 5 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped (140 grams)
- 1 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped (28 grams)
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ t vanilla optional – Gloria leaves it out, anna added ½ tsp
- ½ small banana, well mashed (60 grams)
- ¾ cup sifted flour
- 1 tablespoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt if using unsalted butter, add an extra pinch
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup lightly toasted chopped pecans
- handful of broken Oreos or some Mini Oreos optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray cooking spray on bottom only of an 8 inch metal pan. Gloria noted that for the fair, she used non-stick foil to line the pan.
- Mix flour, cocoa, and salt together and set aside.
- Combine sugar, eggs, and banana in a separate bowl-stir until combined. I did this with a fork.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium low heat, then reduce heat to low and add 5 oz and 1 oz of chocolates. Cook and stir over low until smooth. Cool 5 minutes.
- Add chocolate to sugar egg/banana mixture-stir until combined.
- Stir in dry ingredients until just combined.
- Fold in that last ½ cup chips and nuts (and Oreos, if using). Bake 35-40 min, check at 35 (Anna’s note: I baked a full 45 min)
- Cool completely before cutting. Anna’s note: I like to chill before cutting
- Yield: Obviously, this makes 1 8 inch pan. How many brownies you get is up to you. I cut mine into 9 giant squares, but if you chill the brownies before slicing, you should be able to cut the brownies as small as you’d like. You might even want to try cutting 36 squares and serving them in mini cupcake holders.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Anna says
Ann, Gloria just started a blog of her own. Here's the URL.
http://bakingribbons.blogspot.com/
She just started it this month.
ANN SIMON says
I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO TASTE GLORIAS BROWNIES MADE BY GLORIAS OWN HANDS!!!! TO DIE FOR.........
Lynne says
Yum, these look delicious! I'm definitely drooling right now. omg! I entered a recipe in a mn wild rice contest that has a booth here! That's so cool! I wish I could go 🙂
Tara says
I wish I could go to the MN state fair every year. Haven't been for about 6 years. (*pout*) Maybe next year. You will definitely have to go sometime. The fair is SUCH a part of MN culture. Everybody goes, and usually multiple trips during the running 2 weeks. I get to go to MN in 5 weeks though, just at the tail end of apple picking season, another cultural staple. 🙂
I will have to try this brownie since brownies are my favorite bar (with this chocolate revel bar I just ate at a possible close second).
Anna says
Natalie, my bananas always ripen pretty quickly because nobody eats them fast enough, but I wouldn't say my bananas are really ripe. They're just a little brown. I think you'd be safe either way.
Natalie (The Sweets Life) says
I'm assuming the banana needs to be really ripe for these, right?
Maria says
I spent all day at the MN State Fair on Saturday and am going back on Friday - it is my favorite time of the year!! I'll have to go back and look at Gloria's winning breads. The strawberry one sounds delicious.
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says
These sound excellent! I love the idea of banana in brownies!
We're going to the MN State Fair on Wednesday!! We have tickets to see Weird Al!
Sarah says
i've never thought to make banana brownies. sounds great!
Emily says
Whoo hoo Gloria!!
These brownies look wonderful. I love chocolate and banana together. Oh and the Oreos! Love those too.
Katrina says
I made Gloria's banana brownies last year when you posted about them, too and they were fantastic! Not overwhelmingly banana, but gave a great texture to the brownies. Loved them.
Sue says
Congratulations to Gloria on her wins this year as well as for this recipe from last year!! I admire people who enter contests in the fields of expertise that they love. I will definitely try these some day. I think they would go over well at my house.
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says
Without the recommendation I probably wouldn't have given them a second thought- I love bananas and I love brownies but I'm not sure about the combo. This is going on my list though! The oreos look yummy in them!
Louise says
I think I'd like to try these with Peanut Butter Oreos and maybe some bacon. 🙂
joan says
I remember making these when you first posted the recipe, and they were wonderful. Now I will have to try them with the oreo cookies. What a great idea!
Lisa Ernst says
I agree with you Anna, my initial thought was "I don't want banana flavor interfering with my chocolate brownies." That this actually works and that you've made it repeatedly says a lot. I makes me sort of want to try this....
Kim Fluck says
Yum... sounds good to me! The addition of Oreos is also unexpected. When I read your post, it reminded me of another brownie recipe with bananas...
http://www.pillsbury.com/Recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=44942