Level up your banana bread game!
While banana bread has always been a crowd-pleaser, we couldn’t help but notice that amount of homemade banana bread infiltrating our Facebook and Instagram feeds since quarantine started.
We’re not sure if there’s a surplus of bananas right now, or if people are just incredibly bored. Nonetheless, we’re sure you’ve thought of making your own banana bread once or twice over quarantine - and you definitely do so! But please, do not waste those sweet ripe bananas for a boring old recipe.
That said, we’ve compiled a list of interesting banana bread recipes that’ll definitely earn you bragging rights on Instagram!
PRO-TIP: Use very ripe bananas, and only very ripe bananas!
1. Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Here’s a recipe if you want your banana bread with a cheeky tropical kick.
Recipe from Half Baked Harvest
Ingredients:
- 4 ripe bananas
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 eggs
- 12 tsp cinnamon
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup canned coconut milk (you can use greek yogurt for a healthier recipe)
- ½ cup canola oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup chocolate chips (use more or less to your preference)
- ½ cup toasted coconut flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Peel the bananas and lay them flat on a lined baking tray. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Roast for 20-25 minutes until the bananas are caramelized. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5 minute before mashing. Set aside and reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
- [Dry ingredients] In a small bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk thoroughly. Set aside.
- [Wet ingredients] In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and eggs until smooth. Add coconut milk and canola oil until well combined. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla.
- Slowly stir in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not over mix. Fold in the chocolate chips and toasted coconut flakes.
- Pour the batter into a 9x5 greased loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Take out of the oven and let it cool for 30 minutes before cutting.
2. Cream Cheese-Filled Banana Bread
A little bit sinful, but dangerously delicious! Trust us - your post-banana bread workout will be worth it!
Recipe from Averie Cooks
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup sour cream (you can substitute this with greek yogurt for a healthier recipe)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 large ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- Cream Cheese Filling
- 1 large egg
- 2 oz softened cream cheese
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 3 tbsp all purpose flour
Cream Cheese Filling Directions:
- Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix until smooth. Set aside.
Banana Bread Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray or swipe it down with oil using a tissue.
- [Wet ingredients] Whisk together egg, brown sugar, vegetable oil, sour cream, and vanilla until combined. Add the mashed bananas and stir until incorporated.
- [Dry ingredients] In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir in your dry ingredients to your wet ingredients with a spatula until just combined. Don’t over-mix.
- Pour about ⅔ of your banana bread batter into the prepared pan and smoothen top with a spatula.
- Pour your cream cheese filling mixture on top and smoothen the top lightly using a spatula.
- Top it off with your remaining banana bread batter and set in the oven.
- Bake for about 50 minutes until the top is domed, golden, and the center is set.
- Let it cool completely before slicing.
3. Carrot Cake Banana Bread
Carrot Cake and Banana Bread? If this isn’t the best of both worlds, we don’t know what is!
Recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups mashed overripe bananas
- ½ cup finely shredded carrot
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tps vanilla
- Crushed walnuts, pecans, or toasted coconut (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray or swipe it down with oil using a tissue.
- [Dry Ingredients] In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Add in walnuts, pecans, or toasted coconut if you prefer.
- [Wet Ingredients] In a separate bowl, mix together mashed bananas, shredded carrot, honey, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
- Mix together wet and dry ingredients until just combined. Don’t overmix.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and set in the oven.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the rack before slicing.
NOTE: This banana bread actually tastes better on the second and third day as it becomes sweeter. Just cover and place in the refrigerator.
4. Salted Caramel Banana Bread
If your sweet tooth is begging for more, this sweet and salty banana bread is the perfect cure.
Recipe from delish
Ingredients:
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 mashed overripe bananas
- ½ cup caramel
- Flaky sea salt, for garnish
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray or swipe it down with oil using a tissue.
- [Dry Ingredients] In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- [Wet Ingredients] In a separate bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, buttermilk, vanilla, egg, and egg yolk.
- Combine your wet and dry ingredients and fold in the mashed bananas and caramel.
- Pour batter into your prepared pan and set in the oven.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes until deeply golden or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let cool and drizzle with caramel and flaky sea salt before serving.
5. Brown Butter Banana Bread
Okay, this one’s a little bit basic. But you know what’s not basic? Brown butter. We’re afraid there’s no going back to regular butter after this recipe.
Recipe from Tasting Table
Ingredients:
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
Brown Butter Directions:
- Place butter in a light coloured pan over medium heat.
- Melt the butter, swirling the pan occasionally so the bottom doesn’t burn and everything melts evenly.
- Watch for brown flecks, which indicates the butter is toasting.
- Remove the butter from heat and transfer it into a new bowl as soon as you smell a nutty aroma and the brown flecks have turned a shade darker.
- Reserve 2 tablespoons in a separate bowl. Set aside.
Banana Bread Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a 9x5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray or swipe it down with oil using a tissue.
- Mix together mashed bananas and eggs until fully combined.
- [Dry ingredients] In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Make sure there are no brown sugar lumps in your mixture.
- Pour the banana mixture into your dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in 8 tablespoons of brown butter until fully incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and set in the oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Take out of the oven once the banana bread is cooked and brush the top with 2 tablespoons of brown butter. Let cool completely.
BONUS:
6. Foolproof Super Moist Banana Bread
We may have found the best basic banana bread recipe… and it contains an unusual ingredient!
Recipe from Just A Taste
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 overripe bananas, mashed well (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray or swipe it down with oil using a tissue.
- [Dry ingredients] In a large bowl, whisk together white sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- [Wet ingredients] In a medium bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract.
- Mix in the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. Add in the optional walnuts or pecans.
- Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and set in the oven.
- Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Take out of the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before taking it out of the pan.
- Transfer onto a rack to cool completely before slicing.