Preheat the oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that it’s nice and hot when you’re ready to bake your brownies.

Prepare the baking pan: Grease a 9x9-inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper for easy removal. This will help your brownies come out perfectly every time.

Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. This will ensure the dry ingredients are evenly distributed, giving your brownies a smooth texture.

Cream the butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This step creates a smooth base for your brownies.

Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Make sure everything is well combined before moving to the next step.

Incorporate the banana pudding mix: Stir in the instant banana pudding mix. It’s the secret ingredient that will give your brownies that irresistible banana flavor and creamy texture.

Add the mashed bananas: Gently fold in the mashed ripe bananas. They’ll bring moisture and a sweet, natural flavor to your brownies.

Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix to keep the brownies light and fluffy.

Add milk: Stir in the milk to help smooth out the batter. It should be thick but spreadable.

Optional chocolate chips: If you're a chocolate lover, fold in the chocolate chips at this stage for an extra dose of chocolatey goodness.

Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The brownies should be firm but soft in the middle.

Cool and serve: Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice them into squares and enjoy!