Chocolate protein banana peanut butter brownies

Chocolate protein banana peanut butter brownies
1 cup overripe mashed banana
2/3 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 tbsp chocolate protein powder
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or agave, OR additional banana
optional mini chocolate chips, crushed walnuts, etc.
Preheat oven to 325 F. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stir until completely smooth, and spread into the prepared pan
Bake on the center rack 20-25 minutes (20 for super fudgy brownies) – they will be undercooked when you take them out. Let cool, then loosely cover with a paper towel and place in the fridge overnight, during which time they will firm up without losing their fudginess. They are also much sweeter the next day!
Once cut, the brownies can either be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days or in the freezer for up to a month. You can even eat them straight out of the freezer if you wish!