Gluten-Free Banana Blondies

These Gluten-Free Banana Blondies are rich, buttery and fudgy with the fresh, vibrant flavour of banana. They are so quick and easy to make they are certain to become a family favourite.

I’m sure that you all know and love brownies but you may be less familiar with blondies. If so, it’s time to remedy that.

Blondies are sometimes referred to as brownies without chocolate but that doesn’t give them full credit. They deserve their own recognition, being a delicious snack or dessert with their own personality.

These sweet treats are sometimes known as cookie bars. They are denser than cake but moister and softer than cookies.

What is the difference between a blondie and a brownie?

There are similarities between the two, but the main difference is that the one constant ingredient in brownies is chocolate.

The blondie typically doesn’t contain chocolate, with the main flavouring ingredients being vanilla and brown sugar. However, chocolate chips may sometimes be added as an optional extra. For this recipe, we have used bananas to complement the caramel flavour of the vanilla and brown sugar.

At times there is some confusion between blondies and white chocolate brownies. But again, chocolate is the differentiating feature. They are two separate identities.

Whilst we may know the brownie better, Wikipedia advises that blondies were enjoyed at least ten years before brownies were developed. Blondies were made in the late 19^th century whilst brownies were developed in 1905.

Why we love this Recipe:

We love an easy recipe which is quickly made and that is certainly the case with these irresistible sweet treats.

A friend in America has shared this recipe with us, and I couldn’t be more excited. I asked what some of her favourite desserts were, and this one topped the list (and I now know why!)

These Gluten-Free Banana Blondies have a rich, buttery caramel flavour which is beautifully complemented by the banana.

They are a dream match, made to be together.

Enjoy them as a snack, ideal to pack into a lunch box or to take on a picnic. Or serve small slices for morning or afternoon tea. One of my favourite ways to serve them is for dessert. Serve them warm with my No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream; there are no words!

Banana Bread is a wonderful way to use over-ripe bananas. But if you’re looking for another use for those bananas, this is a great alternative.

Ingredients in this Recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Gluten-free plain/all-purpose flour – I have used a commercial blend. However, you can substitute regular all-purpose flour if you don’t need them to be gluten-free.

Brown sugar – this gives the blondies a delicious, caramel-like flavour and adds moisture.

Unsalted Butter – I use unsalted butter so that I can control the salt content. If you only have salted butter on hand, then just reduce the salt in the recipe to ¼ teaspoon.

For this recipe, I use melted butter. Melting the butter, rather than creaming it with the sugar in the traditional manner, is what helps produce the dense texture associated with blondies.  

Bananas – it is important to use overripe bananas; they are sweet and full of flavour.

Eggs – for ethical reasons I always use free-range eggs.

Vanilla – I use good quality vanilla. In different countries, the name varies between extract and essence. For the best flavour use the natural product and not one which is synthetically derived.

Salt – I use coarse sea salt. Do not use table salt it has finer crystals and will be stronger.  

Step by Step Instructions:

You’ll need to start by preheating your oven to 175 Degrees C (350 F). Line a 22×22 cm (9×9 inch) tin with baking paper. Spray the baking paper with a little oil. This will stop the slice from sticking.

1. Melt your butter;
2. Mash the bananas;
3. Combine the bananas, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, brown sugar and salt.
4. Add in the flour, and mix well to combine.

5. Pour into the prepared pan. Spread the mixture out evenly with a spatula. Bake for 45 minutes or until cooked through.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before attempting to cut as they will fall apart if they are still warm.

Tips for Success and FAQs:

I recommend that you line your baking dish with non-stick baking paper and leave some overhang. This will make it easier to remove the Gluten-Free Banana Blondies from the dish.

Baking is a science and the measurements need to be precise. For this reason, I prefer to weigh my ingredients. But if you are measuring flour by volume, spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with the back of a knife. Do not pack it down.

Cooking times are a guide as all ovens vary. It is important to not overcook the blondie. Err on the side of caution; removing the blondie from the oven a little too early is better than a little too late. The blondies will continue to cook for a time after removal from the oven.

Room temperature eggs are best as they will more evenly incorporate into the batter. If you forget to remove the eggs from the refrigerator just place them in a bowl of warm water for about 5 minutes.

When it comes to serving:

Cut the blondies into squares. They are perfect for school or work lunch boxes. As they are very portable they are ideal to take to potlucks or picnics.

If you are serving them for morning or afternoon tea, when there is an assortment of other sweets, it is best to cut them into daintier sizes.

More Recipes you will love:

We love sharing gluten-free recipes that taste just as good as a regular recipe! Our aim is that you would never know a recipe was gluten-free. Try some more of our favourite sweet treats – these are all gluten-free:

• Pear and Raspberry Cake
• Blueberry Cake
• Lemon Madeleines
• Belgian Lemon Tea Cake
• Almond Cookies

This simple recipe makes moist, fudgy Banana Blondies which are certain to become a family favourite.  

Please let me know in the comments below if you try these lovely Gluten-Free Banana Blondies.

Alex xx