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Comforting Brown Butter Brown Sugar Banana Bread Recipe with Walnut Praline Topping

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A cozy, moist banana bread featuring browned butter and brown sugar for deep caramel notes, topped with a crunchy walnut praline for a delightful texture contrast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), browned and cooled slightly
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • For the Walnut Praline Topping:
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Brown the Butter: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir gently as it foams and browns, about 5 minutes, until nutty aroma and brown specks appear. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
  2. Preheat the Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash bananas until mostly smooth with some chunks. Add browned butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir until combined and glossy.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon evenly.
  5. Mix Wet and Dry: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture with a spatula. Do not overmix; a few flour streaks are okay.
  6. Prepare Walnut Praline Topping: In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar, chopped walnuts, and a pinch of salt. Stir constantly until sugar melts and thickens, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
  7. Assemble and Bake: Pour batter into loaf pan and spread evenly. Spoon walnut praline topping evenly over batter, pressing gently to stick.
  8. Bake: Bake 55-65 minutes. Check at 55 minutes with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with moist crumbs. Bake longer if needed, watching closely.
  9. Cool: Let bread cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then remove from pan to cool completely to prevent sogginess and set topping.

Notes

Use ripe bananas with brown spots for best sweetness and moisture. Browning butter adds a richer, nuttier flavor. Do not overmix batter to avoid dense bread. Fresh walnuts provide best crunch for topping. For gluten-free, substitute flour with gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum if needed. For dairy-free, use plant-based butter alternatives but watch smoke point. Baking times may vary with pan size and oven.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana bread, brown butter, brown sugar, walnut praline, quick bread, moist banana bread, easy baking, comfort food

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/comforting-brown-butter-brown-sugar-banana-bread-recipe-with-walnut-praline-topping/