Brown Butter Banana Bread
Mar 17, 2015, Updated May 07, 2023
Brown Butter adds nutty flavor to this super moist Brown Butter Banana Bread!
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What do I say about banana bread that hasn’t been said already. Countless versions of this bread are available on the internet and rightly so after all this has to be the most popular bread that is made in every household. Have you seen a cafe without a slice of banana bread on their counter? I doubt! Even in a country like India where baking is still not that popular, people do make banana breads at home.
What I love about banana bread is that it’s so flavorful and so easy to make with few basic ingredients. But you know what makes it better? Brown Butter. Oh. My God. You. Guys. I discovered brown butter pretty late in my life [I know what the hell was I doing!] but ever since I did, I want to put it in everything. It’s so damn good. So good. And so I added it to my banana bread to make this brown butter banana bread and I have to say this is the best banana bread that I have ever made. So moist and full of flavors!
This is like a every week scenario in my home.
1. We will get more bananas that we can possibly consume.
2. The bananas will start turning brown, and then turn really dark brown/almost black.
3. Hubby will ask me to throw them.
4. I will obviously not do that and bake with them [so obvious!]
I mean tell me if you are a food blogger or a baker would ever consider throwing over ripe bananas? No right? because over riped bananas are awesome for baking. They not only make the baked good super moist but also add so much flavor.
You would need those super ripe bananas for this bread, the ones with really dark brown spots [almost black] all over. Do not use fresh bananas for this, it won’t work. To make the brown butter is super simple, you melt the butter in a pan on medium heat. The butter will melt and then bubble/foam up, keep stirring. The butter will then begin to change to a golden brown color and also smell nutty. At this point, remove the butter from heat immediately and transfer it to a bowl. Place the bowl in the refrigerator so that the butter cools down a little and then use it to make this awesome brown butter banana bread.
Method
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Spray a 9×5 baking loaf pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
In a bowl sift together all purpose flour, cinnamon powder, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
Start making the brown butter. Take 1 stick of unsalted butter and add it to a pan on medium heat. Use a steel/light color pan here so that you can notice the color change easily.
The butter will melt and then start foaming/bubbling up. Keep stirring.
Keep stirring till the color of the butter changes to dark golden brown, it will take around 5-6 minutes.
Transfer the brown butter to a bowl and put it in the refrigerator to cool down a bit. You don’t need to get it to solidify again, just cool down a little.
Once the butter has cooled down a bit, transfer it to the steel bowl of your stand mixer (or use your hand mixer) and eggs to it.
Beat together the butter and eggs for 3-4 minutes on medium speed.
Add granulated sugar and beat for another 2-3 minutes till well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as and when required.
Add the mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla extract and mix till well combined.
Now add in the flour mix slowly and mix till just combined. Do not over-mix.
Fold in the chopped hazelnuts and chocolate chips and transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan.
Bake at 350 F degrees for 60-65 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. To prevent the bread from getting too brown around the edges and on top, take out the bread from the oven after 30 minutes and cover it loosely with aluminium foil.
Transfer bread onto a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into slices once the bread has cooled down.
Enjoy brown butter banana bread with a cup of coffee!
* Use a light color pan to make brown butter. If your pan is dark, you will not be able to notice the butter change it’s color.
* I used toasted hazelnuts in this recipe but you can use any nut of your choice.
* You can freeze the leftover bread. Wrap in a cling sheet and then tightly cover with a aluminium foil. Place in a freezer bag and freeze.
Brown Butter Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1¾ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 3 ripe bananas [around 1⅓ cup mashed banana]
- ½ cup brown butter unsalted [1 stick]
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup toasted hazelnuts chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Spray a 9x5 baking loaf pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In a bowl sift together all purpose flour, cinnamon powder, salt and baking soda. Set aside.
- Start making the brown butter. Take 1 stick of unsalted butter and add it to a pan on medium heat. [Tip:use a steel pan here so that you can notice the color change easily]
- The butter will melt and start foaming/bubbling up. Keep stirring till the color of the butter changes to brown, it will take around 5-6 minutes.
- Transfer the brown butter to a bowl and put it in the refrigerator to cool down a bit. You don't need to get it to solidify again, just cool down a little.
- Using you hand mixer or stand mixer, beat together the butter and eggs for 3-4 minutes on medium speed.
- Add granulated sugar and beat for another 2-3 minutes till well combined, scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as and when required
- Add the mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla extract and mix till well combined.
- Now add in the flour mix slowly and mix till just combined. Do not over-mix.
- Fold in the chopped hazelnuts and chocolate chips and transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake at 350 F degrees for 60-65 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. [After around 30 minutes, take out the bread from the oven and cover it loosely with aluminium foil to prevent excessive browning on the top and along the edges].
- Transfer the bread on to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Cut into slices once the bread and cooled down and enjoy with a cup of coffee!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Brown Butter Banana Bread
Hi,
Nice recipe…a doubt on brown butter…is it same as ghee?
kind of but ghee is cooked way more. flavors are little similar but texture wise ghee is different than brown butter. Brown butter has the milk solids, there’s no straining whereas we strain the milk solids from ghee.
Isn’t brown butter the best?! I only discovered it a little while ago and now want to put it on everything! I can’t eat popcorn with just regular old melted butter anymore, nope, I need to brown it. So good! This banana bread looks incredible Manali!
Thanks Stacey!! I know brown butter is amazing, I am not sure why I discovered it so late in life!!
I made brown butter banana bread last year for the first time and fell in love with it. I love your version with the chocolate chips and hazelnuts, too! Pinned. 🙂
Isn’t it awesome? 🙂 Thanks Marcie!
This looks delicious. I love a big slice of banana bread on a cold afternoon with a big mug of coffee.
Me too Dannii! Thank you!
I love banana bread and your addition of brown butter is nothing short of brilliant! Can’t wait to try it next time 🙂
Thanks Sonali, brown butter makes everything better!
Manali, brown butter. . oh my. . love love love .. and this banana bread is gorgeous!!! just pinned!!!! seriously, looks perfect!
Thanks Alice for the pin! I share the love for brown butter 😀
I am obsessed with brown butter! I just recently made a brown butter pound cake to share soon, so please know that I didn’t copy you Manali! Haha!! I LOVE brown butter more than most things on earth. Isn’t it amazing? This bread is gorgeous and the banana with the brown butter probably tastes kinda like Bananas Foster!! Love this idea! And the hazelnuts… that really put it over the top for me!
haha Sarah, I didn’t discover brown butter 😛 Mmmm brown butter pound cake sounds totally delicious, can’t wait for the recipe! 😀 and thank you dear!
Love this banana bread, Manali! Brown butter makes everything better and the toasted hazelnuts sound perfect in here!
I totally agree! Thanks Kelly!
Gorgeous Manali! I could only imagine how it tastes! Pinned!
Thanks Mira! 🙂 It tasted great!
delicious looking banana bread, Manali! I love banana and brown butter sounds will give such a nutty aroma to this bread! winner in my book! pinning!
Thank you Savita! Banana bread is one of my favorite breads and brown butter makes it even better!
Ah, the everlasting bananas on the counter. I feel you, Manali! But this is the best way to use them. I love browned butter!
Thanks Mir! Isn’t brown butter awesome!
I love banana bread and why did I not think of adding brown butter! Yum!!! I love adding chocolate chip to my banana breads too, but the hubby doesn’t like them. He’s so plain, hehe. Love this Manali and pinned! 😉
Thanks Cyndi! What he doesn’t like chocolate chip? Oh man, that’s too bad, convince him that chocolate makes everything better! 😀 Thanks for the pin!
This is a great breakfast bread to wake up to, Manali. Brown butter must have given this quick bread some extra flavours.
Indeed! Thanks Angie!
What a fun twist on banana bread! And the hazelnuts? I usually go with pecans or walnuts for banana bread, but I’m a huge hazelnut fan. I’ll have to give that a shot next time I make a batch of banana bread. It’s one of my all-time favorite comfort food recipes! (And yes, you are totally right about “bad” bananas…I may or may not sometimes buy extra bananas just so they will turn “bad”. Tell me I’m not alone here!)
Thanks David! Yeah I usually go with pecans and walnuts too but hazelnuts were also good! Oh yes you are totally not alone, I always buy extra bananas so that I can bake with them! It’s a food blogger thing I guess..haha!
I love having over ripe bananas because then that means I get to bake some banana bread! This looks fantastic, Manali! I’ve never had a brown butter version before, so I can only imagine how delicious this must taste! Pinning!
Thanks Gayle! Brown butter adds so much flavor, I love it! 🙂
That banana bread looks so moist and delicious and brown butter too! Yum!
Thank you!
Darling, you are on a roll with fabulous dishes. Love brown butter like many. This looks good, the sour cream and spices make is sound amazing. You just reminded me that I need to bake a banana bread asap.
Thank you Ash!! 🙂
Ohh Manali…This is the kind of bread I could nibble on all day long! Looks so good. Love it =)
Thank you Oriana!! I could snack on it all day long too!
WOW! This Banana Loaf looks too good. Loved your addition of brown butter! Indeed, moist & flavorsome bread, drooling right now! 😀
Thanks Anu! Brown Butter makes everything better! 😀