Banana Blondies
Super delicious, moist, and easy-to-make, this vegan Banana Blondies recipe comes with a Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting that will tempt your tastebuds. Banana cookie bars are made with only 11 ingredients and take only 30 minutes. You’ll love this fabulous dessert that will have everyone begging for more! Here are even more tasty Vegan Banana Recipes.
This banana blondie recipe is one of my favorite go-to desserts, especially when I’m craving bananas (which is all the time). Adding a peanut butter frosting combines some favorite flavors together in every bite!
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- Using brown sugar in the batter creates extra moist blondies with hints of caramel flavor
- Adding a mashed banana makes the blondies moist and infuses them with the perfect amount of banana flavor
- Topping blondies with peanut butter frosting completes the flavor profile, adding delicious flavor and texture to every bite!
Key Ingredients
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Lemon — We’ll use both the zest and the juice of the lemon.
- Oats — I used rolled oats for this recipe, but you can substitute instant oats.
- Chia — We’ll add some ground chia seeds to create a thicker texture. You can use whole chia seeds; I just prefer ground because it creates a smoother finished texture.
- Syrup — I used maple syrup, but you can substitute agave nectar.
- Milk — We’ll use almond milk for the best overnight oats! Substitute your favorite plant-based milk.
- Yogurt — I love adding some plant-based yogurt (plain, unsweetened) for an even more tangy flavor.
- Protein Powder — I add some vanilla protein powder for increased flavor and nutrients. If your protein powder is not sweetened, you may want to add an extra teaspoon or two of sweetener.
- Cornstarch — We’ll use cornstarch to thicken the lemon curd topping.
- Turmeric — A pinch of turmeric makes that lemon curd sunny yellow.
- Vegan Butter — Use vegan butter or substitute melted coconut oil.
- Flax egg — You can use a Flax Egg or substitute a Chia Seed Egg.
- Brown sugar — Use light, dark, or homemade brown sugar.
- Flour — I used all-purpose flour, but you can substitute Whole Wheat Pastry Flour or even gluten-free baking flour.
- Peanut butter — I use creamy peanut butter to make the frosting.
- Coconut oil — Using refined coconut oil will yield a more neutral flavor.
- Plant-based milk — You can use any plant-based milk, such as almond, soy, etc
What Bananas are Best?
Look for bananas with a few or even a lot of brown spots. If the banana is too ripe (verging on dark brown or even black), the flavor may be too overpowering and the consistency too soft.
How to Make Banana Blondies
- Stir together the wet ingredients.
- Stir together the flour and salt.
- Make the batter by stirring together the wet and dry mixtures.
- Spread the batter into a prepared pan.
- Bake until done.
- Prepare the frosting and spread over partially cooled blondies.
Frosting Options
If Vegan Peanut Butter Frosting is not your favorite, here are some delicious vegan frosting options:
Storage Tips
Cut blondies into squares and transfer them to an airtight container. They will keep at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to 10 days. They can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Marly’s Tips
- You can add up to a teaspoon of cinnamon to the blondie batter
- For a festive event, add some colorful sprinkles on top
- Make banana chocolate chip blondies by adding a cup of dairy-free chocolate chips to the batter.
- Make it a bit lighter by halving the peanut butter frosting on top.
Serving Suggestions
I highly recommend making these banana blondies and then serving them with any of the following:
- A nice, hot cup of Vegan Hot Chocolate.
- Iced Chai Latte
- Golden Milk Latte
Frequently-Asked Questions
Can you freeze banana blondies?
You can freeze blondies by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap or transferring slices to a freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to 2 months when stored properly.
How are blondies different than brownies?
Whereas brownies are infused with chocolate flavor, blondies have notes of caramel thanks to the use of brown sugar in the batter. You can add different flavorings, such as bananas, to accommodate different tastes.
What is the texture of a blondie?
A blondie texture is very similar to a brownie, in that it is dense and gooey. The trick to achieving gooey blondies is to not use a leavener (such as baking soda or baking powder) and to not overbake them.
Banana Dessert Favorites
If you love these banana blondies, here’s even more banana dessert recipes to try:
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Vegan Banana Blondies
Ingredients
For the Banana Blondies:
- ½ cup vegan butter, melted
- 1 flax egg
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup mashed ripe banana 1 banana mashed with a fork
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting:
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 4 tablespoons plant-based milk almond, soy, etc
Instructions
For the Banana Blondies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C and spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with a light coating of vegetable spray.
- Stir together the melted butter, flax egg, brown sugar, mashed banana, and vanilla.
- In a separate, small bowl combine the flour and salt and give it a whisk to combine. Add the flour to the banana batter. Stir to combine.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Allow bars to cool for about 10 to 15 minutes before adding the frosting.
For the Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting:
- Combine the peanut butter and coconut oil in a medium-size bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the powdered sugar and stir until you have a crumbly mixture.
- Add the plant-based milk a tablespoon at a time until you reach a desired, spreadable consistency.
- Spread over slightly cooled blondies.
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Notes
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This post was originally published in 2018 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.
I honestly don’t even like bananas, but like, these sound really good!
I have these in the oven now while my wife is sleeping. I wanted to surprise her tomorrow! The batter was amazing! Can’t wait to give them a try. I’m using my grandmothers old fashioned cooked peanut butter icing which I veganized. So delicious pours right over the top and firms up into a soft peanutbutter fudge.
Toni! Your description sounds heavenly. Your grandmother’s recipe sounds perfect! ❤️
Love these! I have really been into baking with bananas lately. Maybe it’s the weather, but banana treats just feel so cozy. Can’t wait to give these a try. That peanut butter frosting is sending me over the edge!
I made these last night and they were so good! Excellent recipe 🙂
I’m SO glad, Jessica! Thanks so much for coming back to tell me this. I loved this recipe too – so simple and yet so flavorful. XOXO, Marly
Omg Marly, your recipes look fantastic! I can’t wait to try these banana blondies–as well as many other amazing recipes on your website! I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂
Roula-Maria, from Beyond Zucchini
Thanks SO much Roula-Maria! By the way, great name! You’re the best!
xoxo, Marly
What incredibly and sweetly delicious blondies. I just love the look of them – and all that oozy peanut butter frosting!
OMG, Thalia, that oozy peanut butter frosting is the BEST! I could have eaten that with a spoon. Oh wait. I think I did! Oh well, less frosting for the blondies is ok. Right?
These looks scrumptious! Do you think I could substitute almond or coconut flour for the flour, and use xylitol or stevia for the brown sugar? I’m adrenally challenged and the sugar and carbs tempt me so.. but just aren’t good for me. lol
These blondies are so moist that I bet you could get by with using either almond or coconut flour. Regarding the sweetener, I could see trying the stevia. But I’ve been into date sugar lately. Have you tried that? Or even coconut sugar. I’m not sure how these impact your condition, so you will have to make that call in the end. Let me know how it goes!
These blondies look heavenly! Can’t wait to try this amazing recipe!
Thanks so much Sommer! You made my day! 🙂
Anything with peanut butter seems to win my family over, yum! Especially Peanut Pan Peanut butter (i know, not the best for you, will try the organic kind instead =)
I think your family and my family has a lot in common Laura! Honestly, I use the organic peanut butter, but I also buy brands like Jiff and Peter Pan, especially their natural varieties. I find they work really well in recipes like this one. I hope you love these Banana Blondies as much as we do!
Good gracious these look good!!! Definitely putting them on my To Make list!
Thanks Jenn! I hope they tickle your fancy! 🙂