Streusel Banana Bread

Skip the store bought banana bread and bake this classic loaf style cake that is easier than it looks.  It’s incredibly moist and allows the sweetness of ripe bananas to shine. Here are a few variations on the recipe for you to serve from breakfast to dessert. You can keep it classic with the Basic Banana Bread recipe. For an added pop of rich flavor simply fold in chocolate chunks. For a treat that resembles a coffee cake, top your loaf with a textured streusel topping. These flavorful loaves are excellent in the morning with a cup of coffee and make great gifts, too. Banana bread is so versatile that you can serve it as a dessert by slathering a slice with salted honey butter and topping it with seasonal berries. The loaves freeze beautifully so keep a stash in the freezer to get ahead on your holiday bulk baking or to enjoy at a later date. Locate your loaf pans and enjoy these versatile recipes when you’re ready for your fall baking. This recipe was featured in Inside New Orleans Magazine Oct/Nov 2019 issue.

Basic Banana Bread 

Yvette Jemison

YDelicacies.com

 Servings:makes one  8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

¾  teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 ¼ cups ripe bananas, mashed

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup walnuts, chopped

 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf pan.

2. In a large bowl using a mixer on medium speed, beat oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add baking soda and salt and mix until just combined. Add bananas and mix until combined.

3. With the mixer on low speed, add flour and mix until just combined. 

4.Fold in the walnuts. 

5. Scrape batter into the prepared pan. Bake bread until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 60-75 minutes.

6. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let bread cool in pan for 15 minutes.  Invert onto a cooling rack and let bread cool completely before slicing. 

 Streusel Banana Bread

Servings:makes topping for 2 loaves

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup walnuts, finely chopped

3 Tablespoons light brown sugar

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1. In a small bowl mix flour, walnuts, brown sugar and salt until combined.  Add butter and mix until well combined and clumps form. 

2. After batter has been scraped into loaf pan, sprinkle ½ cup of topping over batter, and bake as directed in Basic Banana Bread recipe.  If streusel browns before bread is done, loosely cover with foil until banana bread is completely baked.

Salted Honey Butter

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

3 Tablespoons honey

¼  teaspoon flaked sea salt

1. In a small bowl, stir butter and honey together until well blended. Add salt flakes and stir just until combined.  Serve at room temperature. 

Do ahead:Salted honey butter can be made 5 days ahead. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.  Let come to room temperature before using.