Gooey Banana Brownies with Dulce De Leche

An easy recipe for chewy dark chocolate banana brownies studded with thick dulce de leche. The simple and yummy way to use up overripe bananas.

These fudgy moist brownies are sheer bliss. Something magical happens when dark chocolate, mashed ripe bananas, and dulce de leche are combined. You could call these banoffee brownies.

The caramel is swirled and dotted through the chocolate banana brownie. Giving each delicious mouthful a burst of gooey caramel. Go one step further and add a handful or two of chocolate chips for a double chocolate hit.

I came up with this recipe as I had a few bananas about to get a little too ripe. If you aren't into brownies and want to use up some dead bananas try my boozy banana bread or 2 Ingredient Banana Pancakes.

This recipe makes a lot of banana brownies. Luckily they freeze fantastically.

Sara xxx

Ingredients

A full printable recipe card can be found at the end of this post with recipe ingredient measurements and method.

1. Butter: Use unsalted, but if you don't have it use salted and omit the salt from the recipe.
2. Dark Chocolate: Use good quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage, I usually go for 70%. I would avoid using milk chocolate as the banana brownies would end up being too sweet.
3. Bananas: Overripe bananas, ones that smell sweet, are soft, and have black spots all over the skin.
4. Eggs: Bring your eggs to room temperature before using. I always advocate free range eggs if you can.
5. Vanilla: Vanilla bean paste is used in this recipe, but you can also use vanilla extract or vanilla essence.
6. Sugar: Use caster or superfine sugar.
7. Flour: Plain flour is used in this recipe. Self raising flour would take away the gooey fudgy texture of the brownies.
8. Salt: Kosher or sea salt
9. Dulce de Leche: Is also known as caramalised milk or milk jam. You can make your own or buy it from the store. Please see my notes below.

Dulce de Leche

You don't have to make it from scratch, it is readily available in most supermarkets and delis. I do have an excellent step by step guide on how to make dulce de leche easily, if you are wanting to give it a go. It is extremely simple to make but does take time.

As an alternative you could use thick caramel sauce or thick salted caramel. Either make it yourself or purchase it from the supermarket. Thick caramel for baking is often found in the baking aisle.

Serving Suggestions

Open the container the banana brownies are in and stuff them in your pie hole (Australian for mouth).

But on a more serious note. They are wonderful eaten at room temperature or from the fridge if you are keeping them there. If frozen defrost (if you can wait) to desired eating temperature.

They are also ideal for a quick dessert. Serve warm with a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Another reason to keep some in the freezer.

Spoil the kids with a surprise lunch box treat. Make a batch for a picnic. Fantastic for bring a plate situations, or the office morning tea. These banana brownies travel very well.

How to Make Banana Brownies

Scroll to the bottom of the page for a printable version of this recipe.

1. If you are making dulce de leche from scratch, do this before you start making the brownies.
2. Pre heat the oven + grease and line the brownie pan.
3. Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl, allow to cool slightly.
4. Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl.
5. Add mashed bananas to melted chocolate.
6. Add chocolate mixture to eggs and sugar.
7. Sift in flour and salt, mix.
8. Place banana brownie batter in prepared pan.
9. Bake.
10. Remove from oven.
11. Cool, slice, devour!

Sara's Top Recipe Tips

The Bananas

The bananas need to be ripe, or more to the point, overripe. The kind of banana that looks like it may need to head to the bin. It smells sweet, the skin has blackened or at least has a lot of dark spots on it.

Slicing Tips

Make sure the brownie is cool before attempting to slice it. A good brownie is on the gooey side, and with the caramel these banana brownies are even more so.

Allowing the brownie to cool lets everything solidify to make your cutting life a lot easier. Cut into fingers, squares, or bites.