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Brown Butter Banana Bread Recipe with Easy Walnut Streusel Topping

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A cozy banana bread featuring nutty brown butter and a crunchy walnut streusel topping, perfect for any occasion and ready in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, browned and cooled slightly
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • For the Walnut Streusel Topping:
  • 1/2 cup (60g) chopped walnuts, toasted
  • 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter: In a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter. Stir frequently; the butter will foam, then begin to brown with toasted bits settling at the bottom. This takes about 5 minutes. Once it smells nutty and has a golden-brown color, immediately remove from heat and let it cool for 5-7 minutes.
  2. Prepare the Streusel Topping: While the butter cools, toast 1/2 cup (60g) chopped walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring often to prevent burning. Combine toasted walnuts, 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar, 2 tablespoons (30g) melted butter, 1/4 cup (30g) flour, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl. Mix until crumbly. Set aside.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mash 3 ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth with a few lumps remaining. Add the browned butter, 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk together until fully combined.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift or whisk together 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
  5. Fold Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet banana mixture. Using a spatula, fold gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender and moist.
  6. Transfer to Pan: Grease your 9×5-inch (23×13 cm) loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray. Pour the batter in and smooth the top with a spatula.
  7. Add Streusel Topping: Evenly sprinkle the walnut streusel mixture over the batter. Press lightly to help it stick, but don’t compact it too much.
  8. Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the loaf on the middle rack for 55-65 minutes. Start checking at 55 minutes by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out with a few moist crumbs but not wet batter. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.
  9. Cool: Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Use a light-colored pan to brown butter to better monitor color changes and avoid burning. Toast walnuts before adding to streusel for crunch. Fold batter gently to avoid dense bread. If topping browns too fast, tent with foil. Riper bananas yield better sweetness. For dairy-free, substitute butter with coconut oil but brown butter flavor will be less pronounced.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana bread, brown butter, walnut streusel, easy banana bread, quick bread, dessert, snack, baking

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/brown-butter-banana-bread-recipe-with-easy-walnut-streusel-topping/