Brownies

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache

June 16, 2013

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache //www.bakeaholic.ca

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache //www.bakeaholic.ca

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache // bakeaholic.ca

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache // bakeaholic.ca

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache // bakeaholic.ca

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache //www.bakeaholic.ca

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache //www.bakeaholic.ca

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache //www.bakeaholic.ca

My dad had a sweet tooth – I’m proud to say that I’m certain that’s where I inherited mine from. Father’s day is tough each year, even though it’s been 9 years this upcoming Wednesday since he passed away. It never gets easier – how can it? Instead of celebrating with him, I thought I’d make him something in honour of him, and his sweet tooth.

I can remember every night after dinner my dad would want something for dessert, usually we would have ice cream, maybe a fruit salad. When my mom and I would go grocery shopping he would be sure to remind her to “pick up something sweet.”  It was the way he would say it, “something sweet” with a grin on his face. One of his favourite desserts was a deep dish brownie from Safeway, the square one in the tinfoil packaging and clear lid, with a sickeningly sweet thick chocolate ganache frosting smeared on top in such a way that it left a distinct pattern. I’m fairly certain it didn’t last more than one night in our house. I can’t remember the last time I had one of those.

I thought I would make one of his favourite desserts to celebrate father’s day this year. And while I no longer have my own father, I am very thankful to have two father figures in my life who are there for me always.

These are a much healthier version than the Safeway brownies, but I think my dad would have approved of them for his sweet tooth craving. The ganache is decadent and silky, and the brownie is almost like fudge – sweet tooth satisfying.

If you’re lucky enough to celebrate father’s day with your dad this year, be sure to share it with him – and maybe a slice of brownie or two.

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happy father’s day dad, miss you like crazy

Fudgey Banana Brownies

*can easily be made vegan by swapping out the butter for vegan butter, and egg for egg replacement*
*Wheat Free* *Gluten Free*
recipe by Bakeaholic, original post here

Ingredients:
  • 6 tbs. Butter
  • 3/4 Cup Chopped Extra Dark Chocolate (can use dark chocolate chips)
  • 2 medium Ripe Bananas
  • 1 Tsp. Vanilla extract
  • ½ Cup Sugar
  • 1 Tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa
  • 1 cup Rice Flour/Brown Rice Flour/GF Flour
Directions:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 inch baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. Heat butter and chocolate in a small saucepan over medium low heat Stir until everything is melted. Set aside to cool.
  3. Whisk together the flour, cocoa and baking powder. Set aside.
  4. In stand mixer with whisk attachment, or medium bowl and blender, mash the bananas, vanilla extract, and sugar. Add the egg and blend again.
  5. Add in the melted butter-chocolate mixture and mix well.
  6. Stir in the flour mixture and blend just until combined.
  7. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. You want it to be slightly gooey when you check it, not completely dry. If it needs another couple minutes increase baking time.
** These brownies are best after they are refrigerated! ** Make them the night before **
Tip: I always refrigerate my brownies – it makes them extra dense and fudgey. I recommend letting them come to room temperature on the counter, and then cover and transfer pan to fridge for a couple hours, or even better, overnight.
For these, you want them to be completely cooled before adding the ganache frosting. I refrigerated these ones for an hour or so, then added the frosting then refrigerated for another couple hours, or overnight.
Chocolate Avocado Ganache

This is a seriously amazing ganache – much healthier than the regular version, and includes healthy fats
*Vegan- sub agave for honey*
Ingredients:
  • 2 medium rip avocados
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup melted extra dark chocolate
  • 2-3 tsp. honey/agave nectar

Directions:

Cut avocado in half, remove skin and pit from avocados and scoop out the flesh.

In a food processor, add avocados and puree until smooth. Alternatively, you can blend it in a blender.

Once smooth, add the cocoa, melted chocolate and honey and blend again until smooth. Mixture should be thick and glossy.

Scoop onto cooled brownies and spread evenly over top.

Cover and refrigerate for an hour, or longer until ganache hardens. ** NOTE: Definitely refrigerate the brownies once you add the ganache, the longer it sits the ganache gets sweeter as the flavours medley together**

When ready to serve, take out of the baking dish by lifting the parchment – cut into squares and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers in container.

Banana Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Ganache //www.bakeaholic.ca

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11 Comments

  • Reply Josie Penner June 18, 2013 at 9:05 AM

    I have never heard of ganache before. Looks really creamy, plus you get the healthy advantage of the avocado in it. Will have to try this sometime.

    • Reply Alicia June 18, 2013 at 4:12 PM

      It’s like a thick chocolate frosting, usually it’s made with heavy cream and chocolate. It sets up nicely, almost like fudge!

  • Reply Britta June 19, 2013 at 6:31 AM

    Uhh, delicious. These look absolutely amazing – I love avocado anything. I haven’t made avocado chocolate pudding or anything of that sort in so long. It’s hard to make desserts when no one else is around to eat them (I live with my brother and he doesn’t eat many sweets)! Love the picture of your dad, so great 🙂

  • Reply Averie @ Averie Cooks June 19, 2013 at 4:44 PM

    Last summer I made banana brownies by accident. I was trying to make a chocolate-banana cake. And ended up with brownies 🙂 But I wasn’t complaining. Yours look fab & love the avo ganache! I use it in chocolate mousse and it’s wonderful to replace some/all the butter/cream!

    • Reply Alicia July 9, 2013 at 3:48 PM

      Thanks Averie! That sounds delicious as well =)

  • Reply Hayley June 26, 2013 at 5:59 AM

    Yum yum yum. The photography on this blog is really good and the brownies look too tasty. I made some super healthy gluten free brownies and they turned out really super tasty. Here is the link http://bit.ly/12Zks7Y 🙂

  • Reply Celine January 22, 2014 at 7:02 PM

    Oh my GOD. These look incredible!!! Going to make these and most likely eat them all before anyone even knows about it. Drooling!

    • Reply Alicia January 23, 2014 at 6:12 PM

      Thanks!! I definitely ate a large portion of this pan myself.. oops.

  • Reply Fudge Brownies with Blackberry Cashew Cream & Chocolate Ganache. | Farm to Table Life. November 9, 2014 at 7:19 PM

    […] started with a new fudge brownie recipe from the lovely Alicia at bakeaholic and added a layer of blackberry cashew cream as well as more chocolate avocado ganache like I used […]

  • Reply Aliki February 10, 2015 at 6:12 AM

    Normally I don’t leave comments on recipes I use (I know, I could be nicer), but now.. WOW. These are the best brownies I have EVER made. I love the rich chocolate taste, with the (big) scent of banana in it. And it MELTS in your mouth.. I’m bringing them to the teacher who has to grade my final thesis tomorrow.. Maybe it will help 😉

    Now I’d like to show my respect for your dad, but I’m not sure how.. So I’ll just say that I think it is very sweet (and good!) of you to bake something in his honour.

    • Reply Alicia February 13, 2015 at 7:44 PM

      thanks so much Aliki! I’m the same way (horrible at commenting on posts) but i am so happy you enjoyed the brownies! and thank you for your sweet comment 🙂 xx

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