With the nuttiness of brown butter and a sweet streusel topping, this brown butter banana bread makes for a decadent breakfast or afternoon snack.
There is never a wrong time for banana bread. Whether it’s a classic banana bread, zucchini banana bread, banana nut bread, or even a big stack of banana pancakes, I love it all.
And today we’re really leveling up with some nutty brown butter in our favorite banana bread.
WHY ADD BROWNED BUTTER TO BANANA BREAD?
Do you remember when I taught you how to brown butter and promised it was a kitchen trick you’d want to use over and over again?
Yeah. It was for moments like this one.
I love banana bread. Dominique Ansel’s banana bread has been one of my very favorite things to make for years – it’s rich and buttery and so decadent.
What’s one of the best ways to make that amazing recipe even better? Pair the sweetness of the bananas with the nuttiness of browned butter.
When you brown butter, the milk solids caramelize and give the butter a nutty flavor and aroma. When added to banana bread, the subtle flavor complements the banana instead of overpowering it.
It’s a simple way to make your favorite banana bread even more special.
HOW TO MAKE BROWN BUTTER BANANA BREAD
I love making this brown butter banana bread because it can be mixed together with just a whisk, spatula, and a few bowls – no electric mixer required.
Ingredients you’ll need
For the bread itself, you’ll need:
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 mashed bananas (about 2 cups)
Yes, I know that’s a lot of butter, but I promise that this bread is worth it. Consider it a special treat, rather than something to eat on a daily basis.
I really love nutmeg and think it goes so well with bananas. If you really don’t care for nutmeg, you can always use some ground cinnamon instead.
I decided to add a yummy streusel topping to my brown butter banana bread (because why not?). For that you will need:
- ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons room-temperature unsalted butter
Helpful resources
- Before you get started, learn how to brown butter. It’s easy and is a trick you’ll want to use all of the time!
- Make sure you know how to measure flour correctly so this bread turns out perfect every time.
- If you run out of brown sugar, you can make an easy brown sugar substitute to use in the streusel. You can also learn a few tricks for how to soften brown sugar to save yourself a trip to the store if yours hardened in the pantry.
Making my brown butter banana bread
Before you start working on the batter, brown the butter. This will take about 10 minutes. Once it is browned, pour it into a bowl and let it cool while you work on the next steps.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.
In another bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla. Add this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Now add the browned butter to the batter and stir it in just until incorporated. Pour the batter into a greased 10×5-inch loaf pan. Set this aside while you make the streusel.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Use your fingertips or a fork to work the softened butter in until large clumps form.
Sprinkle the streusel over the batter and bake the brown butter banana bread for 70 minutes (1 hour and 10 minutes). The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove it from the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
STORAGE AND FREEZING
Store this brown butter banana bread well wrapped on the counter at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
If you would like to freeze it, wrap the loaf in a layer of plastic wrap followed by a layer of foil. Label and freeze for up to a month.
Let the bread rest at room temperature to thaw.
You could also slice the bread, wrap the individual slices in a layer of plastic wrap, store them in a zip-top freezer bag, and then freeze for up to a month.
When you’re ready to enjoy a slice of brown butter banana bread, unwrap and microwave it for 30-60 seconds to thaw and warm it through.
MORE RECIPES USING BROWN BUTTER
Whether you are looking for something sweet or savory, there are so many ways to cook and bake with browned butter beyond this brown butter banana bread:
Brown Butter Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
For the bread:
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 4 bananas mashed (about 2 cups)
For the streusel topping:
- ¼ cup brown sugar light or dark
- ¼ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 10×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Following the instructions for how to brown butter, brown the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When browned, remove from the heat and pour into a bowl to cool while you work on the batter.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Add the cooled brown butter and stir until just incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- To make the streusel, combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Use a fork or your fingers to work the butter into the mixture until clumps form. Sprinkle evenly over the bread batter.
- Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Before you get started, learn how to brown butter. It’s easy and is a trick you’ll want to use all of the time!
- Make sure you know how to measure flour correctly so this bread turns out perfect every time.
- If you run out of brown sugar, you can make an easy brown sugar substitute to use in the streusel. You can also learn a few tricks for how to soften brown sugar to save yourself a trip to the store if yours hardened in the pantry.
Lisa
Sunday 22nd of October 2023
This is such a great recipe, browned butter us a game changer!
Jamie
Thursday 2nd of November 2023
I am so happy to hear you enjoy this recipe! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback! -Jamie