Extra Moist Browned Butter Banana Walnut Bread
A classic recipe made even better with slight cinnamon spice, yogurt for a very moist crumb, and browned butter for a rich taste - give life to your old bananas!
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter , cut into 1 inch cubes. Set aside 3 of the cubes.(Note 1)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds
- 2 medium eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup greek yogurt room temperature
- 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
- 3 medium bananas very ripe with spots and mashed into a fine puree.
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour (Note 2)
- Demerara or turbinado sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray your 9" x 5" loaf pan with non-stick spray, then line with parchment paper letting some hang over the long sides for easy removal post bake, and set aside.
- Brown the butter by placing all but 3 of the cubes into a saucepan over medium low heat. Swirl the pan often so the butter can completely melt. The butter will foam and start to turn caramel brown after 4-5 minutes. Once it turns a deep amber color, remove from the heat, and stir in the remaining 3 cubes of butter. Set aside to cool.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients (salt, baking soda, all-purpose flour, and whole wheat flour).
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and warm honey. Pour in the slightly cooled browned butter. Whisk until all sugars are fully dissolved.
- Mix in the eggs one at a time, then pour in vanilla extract, greek yogurt, cinnamon, and whisk until smooth with no visible lumps.
- Finally stir in the mashed bananas (remember, the more mashed the better).
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the large bowl with the wet ingredients and fold with a spatula to incorporate JUST until there are no more visible flecks of flour in the bowl.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, filling it 3/4 of the way up. Top with raw walnuts, and a generous sprinkle of demerara or turbinado sugar all over the top..
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out only with a bit of crumb.
- Cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan and serving.
Notes
NOTES:
- In lieu of unsalted butter, you can use olive oil for a healthier banana bread.
- Instead of using whole wheat flour, all-purpose, spelt or rye can be used - just make sure the total flour used is 1 1/2 cups.