The weather this first week of May has just been, well, ugh. Not fun. Rainy, windy, just cold enough to make me not want to go outside. What happened to April showers and May flowers? Not happy.
Perspective. That's what I needed. A little perspective. And food. I had a bunch of way over-ripe bananas, so I decided to make my favorite banana bread and jazz it up with some walnuts and crumb topping. Living life on the edge over here!
Now I don't want to take credit for something that is not mine, so right away let me tip my hat to "Banana Banana Bread" by Shelley Albelun on Allrecipes. If you are looking for a nut-free, comforting banana bread recipe- Shelley's your girl. However, like I said, I like to live dangerously, so I added walnuts and a crumb topping to her recipe. Giving the weather a one-two-punch, if you know what I'm saying.
Perspective. That's what I needed. A little perspective. And food. I had a bunch of way over-ripe bananas, so I decided to make my favorite banana bread and jazz it up with some walnuts and crumb topping. Living life on the edge over here!
Now I don't want to take credit for something that is not mine, so right away let me tip my hat to "Banana Banana Bread" by Shelley Albelun on Allrecipes. If you are looking for a nut-free, comforting banana bread recipe- Shelley's your girl. However, like I said, I like to live dangerously, so I added walnuts and a crumb topping to her recipe. Giving the weather a one-two-punch, if you know what I'm saying.
I compiled all of my ingredients here- your standard banana nut bread ingredients. You want to make sure you have super-ripe bananas. Speaking of perspective, here's what is hiding just outside of this picture (blocking all my light)...
Reed crooning the ABC song on a ninja turtle ukulele in his underwear. Priceless! He will be grumpy about me sharing this picture someday, I'm sure. Don't care!
I began by asking Reed to mash up several bananas. I had 4 pretty big bananas, so use 5-6 if you only have smaller bananas. And if you are cooking with a toddler, you may want to add an extra one just in case he/she gets a little hungry...
Then, mix together the dry ingredients: 2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
In a separate bowl or mixer, combine 3/4 cup of brown sugar and a stick of butter. Beat this pretty well.
Next, add 2 beaten eggs and the mashed bananas to the brown sugar-butter mixture. Mix until blended.
When you're ready, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and pour in the nuts as well, should you choose to use them. Stir this until just moistened.
The joy of cooking! Yes, I know it has raw egg in it. It was just a little bit, and I was going to lick the spoon if he didn't. Future Rocky Balboa? Didn't that guy eat raw eggs? Reed has the boxer shorts going on, anyway.
Spray a 9 by 5 loaf pan with cooking spray and spread the mixture evenly in the pan.
Now, let's talk about this crumb topping! This topping is sweet, buttery, and really takes this bread to the next level. Plus, it's really simple.
Spray a 9 by 5 loaf pan with cooking spray and spread the mixture evenly in the pan.
Now, let's talk about this crumb topping! This topping is sweet, buttery, and really takes this bread to the next level. Plus, it's really simple.
With a fork or a food processor, combine 1/2 cup of brown sugar with 2 heaping tablespoons of flour, 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of cold butter, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Pulse or cut in the butter until it is evenly mixed.
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the batter in the loaf pan. It's ready for the oven! The bread will need to cook at 350 degrees for about an hour, or until you can poke it with a toothpick and it comes out clean.
Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for a little before you get it out. I like to spread some butter on mine and serve it warm or at room temperature.
We really enjoyed having this banana nut bread during our first chilly week of May. We ate it for breakfast for a few days and it was satisfying and delicious until it was gone. I hope you love it as much as we did!
We really enjoyed having this banana nut bread during our first chilly week of May. We ate it for breakfast for a few days and it was satisfying and delicious until it was gone. I hope you love it as much as we did!
Banana Nut Bread with Crumb Topping
Find base recipe: "Banana Banana Bread"
Ingredients
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 plus 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/3 cups mashed bananas
- Dash of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 5 loaf pan with cooking spray.
Mash the bananas well. Mix together first three ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
In a mixer with the paddle attachment, combine 1/2 cup of softened butter with 3/4 cup of brown sugar. Add 2 eggs and mashed bananas and mix well. Pour into dry ingredients and add walnuts. Mix until just combined and pour into prepared loaf pan.
In a food processor or small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar, dash of cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of flour, and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of cold butter. Pulse or cut in with fork until combined. Sprinkle evenly on top of batter in loaf pan.
Bake for about 60 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out dry.
Find base recipe: "Banana Banana Bread"
Ingredients
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 plus 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/3 cups mashed bananas
- Dash of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 5 loaf pan with cooking spray.
Mash the bananas well. Mix together first three ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
In a mixer with the paddle attachment, combine 1/2 cup of softened butter with 3/4 cup of brown sugar. Add 2 eggs and mashed bananas and mix well. Pour into dry ingredients and add walnuts. Mix until just combined and pour into prepared loaf pan.
In a food processor or small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar, dash of cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of flour, and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of cold butter. Pulse or cut in with fork until combined. Sprinkle evenly on top of batter in loaf pan.
Bake for about 60 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out dry.