Banana Split Brownies

My birthday. Sixty-five. The year of Medicare and senior discounts and the undeniable proof that I have been alive for a very long time. I told Denise I wanted one thing: to see my family. Not on a screen. Not from six feet. To see them. With my eyes. In person. Close enough to smell Kayla's shampoo and hear Earl Jr.'s laugh and touch Amara's face.

Denise organized it. Outdoor. The Thunderbolt yard, which is big enough for social distancing if everybody cooperates and small enough that I can see their faces without squinting. She brought folding chairs and spread them across the grass. Kayla came. Denise and Robert. Monique and James. Earl Jr. drove down from Atlanta with Carolyn and Amara — twenty-two months now, running, talking in sentences that are half words and half music. Patricia couldn't make it — Wayne is high-risk and they're not traveling. She called on FaceTime and I held the phone and she sang "Happy Birthday" off-key, same as always.

Amara. Baby, that child. She ran across the yard — mask off, because she's a toddler and toddlers don't do masks — and she ran straight to me and she said, "GAH-GAH!" and she hugged my legs and I picked her up. I know. I know. The virus. The risk. The rules. But I am sixty-five years old and my great-granddaughter ran to me and called my name and I picked her up and I held her and I smelled her hair and for thirty seconds the pandemic didn't exist. Thirty seconds. The best thirty seconds of this year.

Denise made the cake. Chocolate — my request, because I wanted something different from the usual coconut or pound cake. Sixty-five candles was not possible, so they used a "6" and a "5" and I blew them out and wished for the same thing I've wished for since Earl died: one more year. Just one more. That's always the wish now.

I said, "I'm sixty-five and I don't recommend it." Everyone laughed. It's the tradition now. Every year. The same joke. The same truth dressed as comedy.

Now go on and feed somebody.

Denise made the cake chocolate because that’s what I asked for—something different, something that felt like a choice instead of a habit—and that spirit is exactly what these Banana Split Brownies carry. They’re not the expected thing. They’re a little extra, a little joyful, layered with fruit and chocolate the way a good celebration ought to be layered with people you love. If you’re feeding a crowd on a milestone day, or you just need something that tastes like a reason to keep going, this is the recipe. Make it for somebody’s birthday. Make it for your own.

Prep Time: 20 min | Cook Time: 30 min | Total Time: 50 min + 1 hr cooling | Servings: 16

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 ripe medium bananas, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, well drained
1/2 cup maraschino cherries, halved and patted dry
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat and prep. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides for easy lifting.
Make the brownie batter. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Stir in vanilla. Sift in cocoa, flour, salt, and baking powder; fold until just combined—do not overmix.
Spread and bake. Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake 28–32 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter). Remove from oven and let cool completely in the pan, at least 1 hour.
Layer the toppings. Once the brownie base is fully cooled, arrange banana slices in an even layer across the top. Scatter the drained crushed pineapple evenly over the bananas. Press gently so the fruit adheres.
Make the frosting. Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; beat on medium until fluffy and spreadable, about 2 minutes.
Frost and finish. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the fruit layer. Scatter maraschino cherries, chocolate chips, and nuts (if using) evenly across the top.
Chill and slice. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set the frosting before slicing. Lift from the pan using the parchment overhang, cut into 16 bars, and serve cold or at room temperature. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition (per serving)

Banana Split Brownies — The Chocolate Cake We Made Our Own