Monday, January 9, 2012

Board Certified Banana Fudge Brownies with Walnuts


I brought these to work and people went bananas! I've learned over years of bringing treats to parties, work, friends' houses, etc, that certain flavor combinations are definite hits with crowds. And the popular opinion whole-heartedly supports chocolate and banana together. These brownies are the real deal. They mean business. Monkey business. So so good!


I doubled the recipe and used 3 ripe bananas I had on hand. The recipe supposedly comes from the California Walnut Board. Did you know such an organization existed? That's some serious dedication to a nut! The "supposedly" above is because my mom sent me the recipe, which she had saved on a recipe card in a binder, and can't recall for sure, but thinks it's from that walnut board. I'm going to assume she's right. Because board certified brownies simply sound better. It's like they passed a test or something. And hey, based on the faces of the lucky recipients of the batch I made, they passed with flying colors.

If you happen to know for sure that these don't come from the California Walnut Board, or heck, that the board is a fantasy all together, please keep it to yourself. I purposely didn't check Google for accuracy because I like a little mystery now and then. And I can't bear the thought of these brownies not being board certified. It would ruin my day. ;)


Banana Fudge Brownies with Walnuts
Adapted from a recipe by the California Walnut Board (if memory serves my mom right...hehe)
Makes an 8-inch pan of brownies (recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9x13-inch pan)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate (can use chocolate chips)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 small)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of 8-inch square pan. I like to line my pan with foil and then grease the foil so it's easy to lift the entire tray of brownies out and slice on a cutting board.

In a saucepan, melt together the butter and chocolate. Remove from the heat and beat in the flour, sugar, mashed banana, vanilla, baking powder, salt, egg, and walnuts with a wooden spoon.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until center is set (do not overbake or the brownies will be dry). Cool in the pan on a wire rack, then cut into 2-inch squares. Or smaller, bite-size squares, which is my preference.


Step-by-Step in Pictures
Melt the chocolate and butter together...

Remove from the heat and add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt...

Add the banana, egg, and vanilla...

Stir in the toasted walnuts...

Spread evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees F...

Cool, then slice and serve!

8 comments:

Mom said...

Maybe I'll make these for work this week. I baked banana bread yesterday and I still have extra ripe bananas. Does this sound like a healthy breakfast dish? I think so and they look so yummy!

Jason G. Goldman said...

I am obligated to point out that the photo is of a chimpanzee, which is not, by any means, a monkey. They're apes :-)

Marni said...

Mom - anything with bananas qualifies as breakfast food. Even if it has brownies in the title. :)

Jason - Ok, you got me. But people go ape over these brownies, so a chimpanzee is an appropriate photo, too! ;)

Jason G. Goldman said...

Heh, fair enough!

Carolyn Jung said...

Bananas in brownies? Who would have thunk? But it makes perfect sense. Heck, we put chocolate chips in banana bread all the time, so why not put some banana in brownies. It's only fair. And I bet it's irresistible.

Lulu--Back in Town said...

I haven't looked for the brownie recipe (keep the mystery alive!) but I can assure you there is definitely a California Walnut Board. The California Central Valley takes its walnuts and almonds VERY seriously. ;)

(Did you know we grow 99% of the nation's walnuts, accounting for 2/3 of all worldwide walnut trade? That is a gem from the Walnut Board.)

Anyway, this recipe looks delicious (I've been scouring around for something exactly like this) and if it's Board Certified, how could I go wrong? Going to go make them now!

Lulu--Back in Town said...

ETA: These are FABULOUS brownies. Followed your lead and doubled the recipe/tripled the banana and they are killer diller!

(Fresh cracked local walnuts were a nice touch!)

Unknown said...

I tried this and its so delicious! Its moist not dry.

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