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Cozy Brown Butter Banana Bread with Crunchy Walnut Streusel

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A rich and moist banana bread enhanced with nutty brown butter and topped with a crunchy walnut streusel, perfect for cozy mornings and snacks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, browned
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup small-curd cottage cheese, well-drained
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (for streusel)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed (for streusel)

Instructions

  1. Brown the butter: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Stir frequently as it foams and bubbles, watching closely as it changes from yellow to golden brown with nutty aroma — about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a heatproof bowl to cool slightly.
  2. Preheat oven and prepare pan: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray and line with parchment paper if desired for easy removal.
  3. Mash bananas: In a large bowl, mash 3 ripe bananas until mostly smooth with a few small lumps remaining — about 1 cup mashed.
  4. Mix sugars and eggs: Add granulated sugar (3/4 cup) and brown sugar (1/4 cup) to the bananas. Crack in 2 large eggs and pour in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk or beat with a mixer until fully combined and slightly fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  5. Add browned butter and cottage cheese: Once the browned butter has cooled slightly but still liquid, stir it into the banana mixture. Then fold in 1/2 cup well-drained small-curd cottage cheese gently, distributing evenly.
  6. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  7. Fold dry into wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the banana batter, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender. The batter will be thick but moist.
  8. Prepare walnut streusel: In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup chopped walnuts, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add 3 tablespoons cold cubed butter and use your fingers or a fork to crumble until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  9. Assemble and bake: Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle the walnut streusel evenly over the batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs (not wet batter).
  10. Cool and serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Slice once fully cooled or warm for a comforting treat.

Notes

Use a light-colored saucepan to brown butter to better monitor color changes and avoid burning. Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread tender. Drain cottage cheese well to avoid extra moisture. If streusel browns too quickly, tent the loaf with foil halfway through baking. Start checking doneness at 50 minutes. For a crispier top, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana bread, brown butter, walnut streusel, cozy, moist banana bread, easy banana bread, homemade banana bread, breakfast bread, snack bread

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/cozy-brown-butter-banana-bread-recipe-with-crunchy-walnut-streusel-tips/