25 min
Prep Time
18 min
Cook Time
Medium
Level
12
Servings

Browning the butter really adds a depth of flavor to banana bread, not to mention it smells extra amazing when in the oven. This is my go-to recipe when I have ripe bananas, and has taken me a while to get it right. Enjoy it hot, fresh from the oven.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter

  • 3 very ripe bananas

  • ¼ cup brown sugar

  • ¼ cup white sugar

  • 1 egg

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (Optional)

  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (Optional)

Method

  1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; bring to a low simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until butter is browned, fragrant, and foamy, with brown bits in it, 5 to 10 minutes. Set aside to cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes. Measure 1/3 cup of browned butter; reserve remaining browned butter for another use.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan.

  3. Mash bananas in a large bowl; stir in brown sugar, white sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and 1/3 cup brown butter.

  4. Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl. Fold flour mixture into banana mixture just until all ingredients are moistened; pour into prepared pan.

  5. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.