Banana bread is what we call “for the people”. It’s easy to make and made with simple ingredients – (1) pantry ingredients that you probably already have on hand and (2) those bananas you didn’t get a chance to eat that are turning brown on your kitchen counter. It is also one of the most nostalgic baked goods I can think of. I feel like everybody’s Southern grandmother made/makes banana bread. It’s a recipe that envelops your taste buds and feels like a warm hug. Banana bread is quintessential comfort food, and here’s how to make it moist, flavorful, and unforgettable.
Your grocery list
Pantry Items
- All-purpose flour
- Brown sugar
- White sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Kosher salt
- Walnuts
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
Produce
- Very ripe bananas
Dairy
- Buttermilk
- Large eggs
- Unsalted butter
Other
- Spiced rum (optional)
Equipment/Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons/cups
- Rubber spatula
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- Loaf pan
- Nonstick baking spray or parchment paper, for easy removal
Banana Bread with Crunchy Crumble Topping
Made with bananas, warming spices, and a little optional spiced rum – this banana bread is moist with the added crunch from the crumble topping.
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Rate
Servings: 1 loaf
Cost: $15
Equipment
- Baking sheet for roasting nuts
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups/spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- 9" x 5" loaf pan
- Nonstick baking spray and/or parchment paper
- Wire rack for cooling
Ingredients
For the banana bread batter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- a dash of nutmeg
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 4 very ripe bananas, mashed with a fork or masher
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1-2 tablespoons spiced rum, optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
For the crumble topping
- 3 tablespoons flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, slightly softened and cut into pieces
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
Roast the walnuts
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spread walnuts out on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes or until fragrant.
- Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan (or line it with parchment paper). Set aside.
Making the crumble topping
- Add the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl and mix until combined. Cut in the butter using your fingers or a pastry blender, until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in chopped walnuts. Set aside.
Making the batter
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well in between each addition. With a wooden spoon, stir in the mashed bananas, buttermilk, rum, and vanilla. Slowly stir in the dry ingredients. Once the flour is incorporated, stop right there. DON'T over-stir. Gently fold in walnuts. The batter will be thick.
Baking and Cooling
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the batter. Bake the bread for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Remove the bread from the pan and continue to cool on the wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- If you aren’t using rum, increase the amount of buttermilk to 4 tablespoons (or about ¼ cup).
- After removing the loaf from the oven, allow it to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before attempting to remove it. Allow it to cool completely before slicing IF you have the patience… It will be hard! Trust me, I know. It’s not a necessity, but if you want clean (less crumbly) slices, the cooler the better.
- Using baking spray alone should be enough to get your loaf out of the pan, but adding a strip of parchment paper (about the same width as the pan with a little extra sticking out to use as handles) will make it even easier to remove, slice, and serve.
- Serve slices plain, with a nut or cookie butter, cream cheese, and/or fruit.
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