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Cozy Brown Butter Banana Bread Recipe with Easy Walnut Streusel Topping

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A comforting banana bread recipe featuring rich brown butter and a crunchy cinnamon-spiced walnut streusel topping, perfect for cozy mornings or snacks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, browned and cooled slightly
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (75g) chopped walnuts, divided
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (50g) packed brown sugar

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter (about 5-7 minutes): In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Stir occasionally as it foams and then begins to brown, releasing a nutty aroma. Watch closely and remove from heat as soon as it turns golden brown with tiny brown specks. Pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool slightly (about 5 minutes).
  2. Prepare the Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine the chopped walnuts, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix until the sugar clumps around the nuts. Set aside.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth but still a bit chunky. Whisk in the browned butter, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined and glossy.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Fold Dry into Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet banana mixture, folding gently with a spatula. Don’t overmix—stop as soon as you no longer see dry flour.
  6. Add Walnuts to Batter: Fold in half of the chopped walnuts for texture throughout the bread.
  7. Transfer to Loaf Pan: Grease your 9×5 inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper. Pour the batter in and smooth the top with a spatula.
  8. Add Streusel Topping: Sprinkle the walnut streusel evenly over the batter, pressing lightly so it adheres but still looks crunchy.
  9. Bake: Place in a preheated oven at 350°F (177°C) 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 no raw batter. If the top browns too fast, loosely tent with foil.
  10. Cool: Remove from oven and let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Use a light-colored pan to brown butter to avoid burning. Fold batter gently to avoid dense bread. Let bread cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling. For softer crust, tent with foil during last 10-15 minutes of baking. Variations include gluten-free flour, vegan substitutions, and mix-ins like chocolate chips or dried fruit.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana bread, brown butter, walnut streusel, quick bread, easy banana bread, cinnamon, snack, breakfast

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