Description
Indulgent banana bread meets classic coffee cake in this irresistible mashup of flavors. Crumbly streusel tops moist banana-infused layers, creating a comforting treat that you’ll crave with your morning coffee or afternoon snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 4 bananas (medium or large)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 6 tablespoons butter, cold
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Spices and Leavening:
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 350°F and ready two 8×4-inch loaf pans with a thin butter coating for enhanced flavor and non-stick performance.
- Create a fragrant banana mixture by mashing ripe bananas with brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon, maintaining a slightly lumpy consistency for optimal texture.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light, airy, and pale, ensuring a tender bread foundation.
- Incorporate eggs individually, allowing each to fully blend into the butter-sugar mixture before adding the next, creating a smooth, cohesive batter.
- Gently sift flour, baking soda, and salt into the wet ingredients, stirring with minimal manipulation to prevent developing tough gluten structures.
- Fold in sour cream and the prepared banana mixture, creating a thick yet pourable batter with rich, complex flavors.
- Craft the crumb topping by combining flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then integrate cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse, sandy crumbs. Refrigerate briefly if the kitchen is warm.
- Evenly distribute the banana bread batter between prepared pans, generously sprinkling the chilled crumb topping across the surface.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, monitoring the topping’s browning and covering with aluminum foil if it darkens too quickly. Confirm doneness by inserting a toothpick that emerges clean.
- Allow loaves to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling, resisting the temptation to slice immediately for optimal structural integrity.
Notes
- Use overripe bananas with dark brown or black spots for maximum sweetness and deeper flavor.
- Gently fold ingredients to maintain a light, tender crumb and prevent tough, dense bread.
- Keep crumb topping ingredients chilled to create a more crisp, crumbly texture when baked.
- Replace sour cream with Greek yogurt or dairy-free alternatives for dietary variations like vegan or lactose-free versions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 249
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg