Banana Pudding Brownie Recipe

If you have any hint of a sweet tooth, then you will want to follow this banana pudding brownie recipe for the ultimate treat. You read that right — these decadent squares have a brownie and pudding marbling so that you can enjoy double the flavor and texture in every single bite. Recipe developer Catherine Brookes from Blue Sky Eating created these because, as she puts it, "Banana and chocolate are a match made in heaven!" Not only do the two flavors make an iconic match, but she points out that "adding creamy banana pudding to a rich chocolate brownie" is surely one of the better ways of combining them.

The recipe is easy and straightforward, yet the result is undoubtedly delicious, not to mention super creative! Brookes remarks, "I love how by adding a few simple ingredients you can create these unique brownies with a delicious twist!" Indeed, this recipe cuts a few corners by using boxed brownie and pudding mix, simplifying the number of steps without sacrificing flavor.

Start by gathering the ingredients for this banana pudding brownie recipe. Depending on the exact box mixes you use, there may be some slight variations, so be sure to read the label. First, you will need a box of chocolate brownie mix for the bulk of the dessert. (The brand Brookes used required one egg, 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and 5 tablespoons of water to create the batter.)

Next, for the banana component, Brookes first mixed together one egg, 6 ounces of cream cheese, and ⅓ cup of milk to thicken up the banana pudding mix to make the swirl. Obviously, banana is the desired flavor here, but feel free to experiment with different puddings. Brookes notes, "Vanilla might work well!"

First of all, set up your workspace so that you are ready to bake. You'll need to preheat the oven to 350 F — double check if your brownie mix package specifies the same temperature, or else adjust accordingly. Next, grease and line an 8x8-inch baking pan so that you don't have to miss out on any chocolatey goodness stuck to the bottom.

Now you'll prepare the brownie batter according to the box instructions. Brookes adds the brownie mix to a large bowl and whisks in one egg, the vegetable oil, and some water until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Next, set out another mixing bowl for the banana portion of these double-flavored brownies. Then, whisk together the cream cheese, one egg, and the milk until they form a smooth mixture. Once it is uniform, empty out the package of banana pudding mix into the bowl, and keep whisking until the contents become smooth and are nice and thick. Be sure that there are no more clumps of pudding mix so that the texture is ultimately creamy.

Now that you've prepared the two separate mixtures, it's time to move on to the next step — assembling the banana pudding brownies. Evenly spread about half of the brownie mixture across the bottom of the baking pan you prepared. Next, distribute some dollops of banana pudding mixture with a spoon all over the top of the brownies. Use a skewer or cocktail stick to swirl the pudding throughout the brownie to create a marbled effect.

This time, you will repeat the same process with the remaining brownie and banana pudding mixtures. First, spread the other half of the brownie batter into the pan, smoothing out the top. Then, dollop on the rest of the banana pudding mix. Again, with the help of a skewer or cocktail stick, swirl the banana mix into the brownies for some more marbling. Not only does the appearance of the brownies look extra special, but the banana flavor will be nicely distributed throughout for more flavor.

At this point, your oven should be preheated, so transfer the baking pan onto a rack. Brookes recommends baking the brownies according to the package instructions plus an additional five minutes. They should take about 30 minutes total to bake. To test them for doneness, Brookes says, "Poke a skewer into the center of the brownie, and it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, no runny brownie mixture."

Let the brownies cool down slightly before digging into this decadent treat. Brookes says, "You get the usual fudgy chocolate brownie texture, but the pudding swirls have a cheesecake-like texture." If you manage not to devour them all, she says, "They should keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or in the fridge for up to a week."