Banana~Brownie Squares

Coming up with interesting recipes that incorporate bananas has become a challenge for me.  And, since I always have what seems like "aged" bananas every week, there's just so much banana bread that one can bake:-)

Today, I was inspired by a photograph that my sister sent to me a couple of weeks ago of my daughters when they stayed at her house while my DH and I went to the Shenandoah Mountains for our 10th anniversary.  Her daughter, Amy, decided to play "dress up" with the girls, using crazy hats, her mother's old clothes, and a wig (yes, that is a wig that Kelly is wearing!) and of course,  a plastic lei and sun glasses to complete the ensemble.

Dressing up is always a fun activity for children and a couple of years ago, for Christmas, I made up "Dress Up" boxes for each of my grands.  All sorts of hats--cowboy/girl, police, fireman; costumes I found on sale at different costume sites--pirate, Indian, princess, boas; and I made each one a cape--Maddie had a Little Red Riding Hood and Ari's was a Superhero/magician to inspire their imagination.

Ari in his favorite Spiderman costume

Maddie in her Chinese New Year outfit to match Ivy's

Okay, if you couldn't guess the concept behind this post...I've "dressed up" banana bread with a brownie layer!

Banana~Brownie Squares
Banana Layer:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
2 large eggs
1 tsp. Banana flavoring 
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
2 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350F-degrees.  Butter a 12" x 18" sheet pan, line with parchment paper, and butter again.

In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, cream the butter until fluffy.  Add the sugar and beat well.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.  Add the mashed bananas, extract and flavoring and beat once more.  Don't be concerned that the batter looks "curdled."

Stir in the dry ingredients and then the nuts.  Pour mixture into the prepared pan and with an off-set spatula spread completely.  Set aside while you mix up the brownie layer.

Brownie Layer:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
9.7 oz. Scharffen Berger Bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Place the butter and chocolate in the top of the double boiler and on medium/low heat, melt.  Set aside to cool.

4 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 T Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. Espresso powder (optional, but boosts the chocolate flavor)
2/3 cup King Arthur all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a bowl of a stand mixer, using the whisk attachment, beat eggs 2 to 3 minutes.  Add the sugar while the mixer is on low, gradually to the eggs.  When all the sugar has been combined, turn mixer to high and beat until the eggs/sugar are a "light, lemon color."

  
Slowly add the chocolate mixture and beat to combine.  Scrape down the sides.  Stir in the dry ingredients and then the chocolate chips.  Pour mixture over the banana bread layer and spread to cover.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then, lower the temperature to 325F-degrees and continue baking 22-25 minutes.  The top of the brownie layer will be shining and dry looking.  Remove from the oven and cool completely--about 1 hour.  Cut into squares and serve.

Makes 2 dozen 3" x 3" bars.

Eat plain or dust with confectioners' sugar

Dress up is a fun way to activate a child's imagination and relatively inexpensive.  I know my grands love it as much as my own daughter's did.  These Banana~Brownie Squares are a tribute to that part of childhood we hold in our memories.  Enjoy!