Best Brown Butter Banana Bread
Soft and tender, this moist brown butter banana bread has lovely caramel notes complementing the banana flavor. Browning butter is just one little extra step and makes the best banana bread recipe—caramelized milk solids in the brown butter pair perfectly with the banana flavor.
This brown butter banana bread recipe is a great way to use up overripe bananas. They give so much flavor and moisture to the banana bread. The riper they are, the sweeter they are too.
The batter has a little yogurt in there, too. Brown butter, also known as beurre noisette or burnt butter, is simply butter that has melted and then cooked a step further so that the milk solids in the butter caramelize. It brings this amazing depth of flavor nutty flavor. I honestly think this is the best ever banana bread!
Ingredients
The ingredients for this burned banana bread are listed in the recipe card below, but here is a run-through with extra details.
- Large ripe bananas – Over-ripe bananas are better than less-ripe yellow bananas. They provide sweetness and flavor to the recipe and add moisture to the bread. This homemade banana bread needs two large extra-ripe bananas in the batter and another banana sliced on top.
- Butter – You can use salted butter or unsalted butter. This will be browned first and left to cool before using in the recipe. This is what turns classic banana bread into something extra special.
- Soft brown sugar – he caramel flavor of the brown sugar complements the banana and brown butter for the perfect banana bread.
- Large eggs- the eggs provide the structure.
- Vanilla extract – is always delicious with caramel!
- Salt – Flavor enhancer.
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Plain yogurt – This can be Greek yogurt or natural yogurt. You can also use sour cream. The acidity these bring give the perfect texture.
- Optional extras – Chocolate chunks or chopped walnuts, turbinado sugar for topping.
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease or line an 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper
- Let the butter melt in a small saucepan over medium heat.. Avoid using a dark pan, as you will struggle to see the caramelization of the butter at the bottom of the pan and run the risk of burning it.
- Once melted, let it cook for around 3-4 minutes until the milk solids have caramelized and the butter has a nutty aroma. Pour the nutty browned butter into a large bowl.
- Ensure you use all those deep golden brown bits that accumulate at the bottom of the saucepan. They have all the flavor. Allow the butter to cool down for around 10 minutes.
- Mash the bananas with a fork in a large bowl. Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl.
- Add the cooled butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla to the mashed bananas. Whisk it well together until all combined.
- Tip the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients along with the yogurt.
- Fold it together with a rubber spatula until well combined but not overmixed.
- You will see the brown flecks of butter throughout the batter.
- If you add chocolate chips or nuts, these can also be folded through the banana mixture.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. Slice the extra banana lengthwise and place the sliced banana on top of the batter. Sprinkle with a little turbinado sugar.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 50-60 minutes until the top of the bread springs back when touched and a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. The baking time will depend on your oven.
- Remove the moist banana bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes before slicing.
Serving and storing
Serve the fresh banana bread loaf in slices with a pat of butter. The leftover banana bread can be covered and stored at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Banana bread freezes very well too so this recipe could be doubled or tripled and extra loaves can be frozen. Cover the cooled bread tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container and freeze for up to three months. Let it defrost at room temperature and slices can be warmed in the toaster or microwave.
FAQS
I usually use all-purpose flour for banana bread. However, you can use 1/2 all-purpose with 1/2 whole wheat flour for added fiber. It will make a slightly denser bread.
Yes, you can make it gluten-free by using a gluten-free flour blend designed to directly substitute all-purpose flour. Just make sure to check if your baking soda and other added ingredients are gluten-free too.
Several factors can contribute to this issue: overmixing the batter, using too much flour, or overbaking. Ensure you measure your ingredients correctly, mix just until combined, and keep a close eye on the baking time.
I have both gram measurements and US customary cup sizes available. For best results, I recommend measuring in grams.
To make brown butter, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Continue to cook the butter, stirring occasionally until it foams and turns deep brown, with a nutty aroma. Be attentive, as it can quickly go from browned to burned.
Absolutely! Let them slightly thaw and pour off the excess moisture, then mash and use them as you would fresh bananas.
Related recipes
This is one of my favorite banana bread recipes, and I hope you love it too! For more delicious recipes, check out these!
Brown Butter Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 113 g unsalted butter
- 240 g very ripe bananas
- 150 g soft brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 250 g all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 125 g natural yogurt (or use sour cream)
Topping
- 1 large banana, sliced lengthwise
- Optional – Turbinado sugar for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Grease or line an 8.5×4.5-inch or 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Let the butter melt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, let it cook for around 3-4 minutes until the milk solids have caramelized and the butter smells nutty. Pour the browned butter into a large heat-proof bowl and cool down for 10 minutes.
- Mash the two bananas with a fork and add them to the cooled butter.
- Add in the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk it well together until all combined.
- Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl.
- Tip the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and the yogurt and fold with a rubber spatula until well combined but not overmixed. You will see the brown flecks of butter throughout the batter.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf pan.
- Slice the extra banana lengthwise and place the sliced banana on top of the batter. Sprinkle with a bit of turbinado sugar.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 60-70 minutes or until the top of the bread springs back when touched and a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. If baking in a 9×5 inch pan it will need less time than a smaller pan.
- Remove the baked banana bread from the tin and let it cool on a cooling rack for 20 minutes before slicing.
I made this bread today for my family. It smells Devine in our home.
When do you add in the sour cream that you have listed in the ingredients?
Hey Kati, I say that you can use sour cream in place of yogurt, this is added in step 6.
The best banana bread recipe! I made it without sugar and used spelt flour for my toddler, it’s just as fluffy. I referred to the muffin pan notes and baked in madeleine pan (fun shape for my toddler). Thank you so much!
Love this recipe, added walnut and dark chocolate chunks.