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Easy One-Bowl Banana Bread with Browned Butter

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This easy one-bowl banana bread with browned butter is a simple, no-mixer recipe that delivers nutty, caramel-like depth. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, it’s a crowd-pleaser that comes together in under 15 minutes of active work.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter
  • 3 large ripe bananas (about 1 1/2 cups mashed)
  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar or coarse sugar (optional, for topping)
  • A handful of chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Position a rack in the middle. Line your loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the long sides.
  2. Brown the butter: Place the 1/2 cup of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Let it melt completely, then keep cooking. Swirl the pan occasionally. When you see golden brown specks forming at the bottom and it smells nutty, take it off the heat immediately. Pour it into a heatproof bowl to stop the cooking. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Mash the bananas: In your large mixing bowl, add the three ripe bananas. Mash them with a fork until they’re mostly smooth with a few small lumps.
  4. Add the wet ingredients: To the mashed bananas, add the cooled browned butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Whisk everything together until smooth and well combined.
  5. Add the dry ingredients: Sprinkle the 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (if using) over the wet mixture. Use your spatula to fold everything together gently. Stir just until you don’t see any more streaks of flour. A few lumps are fine.
  6. Pour into the pan: Scrape the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Spread it evenly with the spatula. If using, sprinkle turbinado sugar and/or nuts over the top.
  7. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. Start checking at 50 minutes—insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, it’s done.
  8. Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then use the parchment paper to lift it out and transfer it to a cooling rack. Let it cool completely before slicing.

Notes

For best texture, use heavily spotted bananas. If bananas aren’t ripe enough, bake them at 300°F for 15-20 minutes until soft and sweet, then cool before mashing. To prevent over-browning, tent loaf with aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes if needed. The browned butter flavor deepens after 24 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana bread, browned butter, easy banana bread, one bowl banana bread, no mixer banana bread, quick banana bread

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/easy-one-bowl-banana-bread-with-browned-butter/