Brown Butter Banana Bread
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This brown butter banana bread is a delicious upgrade to classic banana bread. It's our go-to moist banana bread recipe baked with brown butter and served with a sweet brown butter glaze. It's a simple variation with a nutty toffee flavor and it's ready in just over an hour!
For more incredible banana bread recipes, try our buttermilk banana bread, peanut butter banana bread, and Hawaiian banana bread.
This brown butter banana bread is an irresistible and slightly sophisticated spin on classic banana bread that packs a lot of complex flavor into every bite.
It's our go-to moist banana bread recipe featuring brown butter that we finish off with a sweet brown butter glaze. While the brown butter adds a toasty toffee-like taste, it's the addition of sour cream in the batter that makes it moist and rich.
You can serve this banana bread with or without the glaze and it will be delicious. The glaze adds a wonderful sweetness, but it does make it taste more like a dessert.
Like all banana bread, it's a satisfying snack any time of day. It's what we bring to potlucks and brunch at friends' houses. When we've got lots of bananas, we make a double batch and share a loaf with a friend!
What is brown butter?
Brown butter, also known as beurre noisette in French, is regular butter melted and gently cooked until the milk solids become toasted.
Brown butter tastes a bit like toffee. It's nutty, toasty, and slightly sweet with caramel undertones.
Brown butter banana bread ingredients
This banana bread is our go-to banana bread recipe using flavor-boosted brown butter. Here's everything you need to make the banana bread:
- Butter ā we use unsalted butter. You can also use salted butter, but omit the added salt the recipe calls for.
- All-purpose flour ā we use regular all-purpose flour. While we haven't tested it, a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend should work.
- Baking soda
- Sea salt
- Bananas ā make sure to use ripe bananas. The spottier they are, the sweeter they are! They also mash up easier so they incorporate better into the batter.
- Eggs ā if you have time, let your eggs come to room temperature as it helps in the baking process.
- Brown sugar + granulated sugar ā we've experimented a lot with which sugar works best in banana bread. We find using both brown sugar and granulated sugar gives banana bread the right sweetness and texture we're after.
- Sour cream ā the extra fat from sour cream adds richness and moisture.
- Vanilla extract ā vanilla adds a slightly floral note but also acts as a flavor enhancer.
How to make brown butter banana bread
This banana bread with brown butter glaze is the perfect afternoon treat! It also happens to be easy to make. Here's how to make the banana bread in a few easy steps:
- If you're making the brown butter glaze, brown the butter for both the banana bread and the glaze at the same time. Melt the butter gently on the stove until it foams. Keep the pan on the heat until the foam subsides and then turn off the heat. We like it nice and dark, but watch it closely so it doesn't burn.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, mash bananas then stir in the brown butter, eggs, both the sugars, sour cream, and vanilla extract.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the banana mixture until just combined.
- Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan and bake it until it's browned and golden. Once cool, frost it with brown butter glaze or enjoy it as a spread on the side. Yum!
Browned butter banana bread variations
This banana bread recipe is scrumptious as-is but here are a few delicious variations:
- Fold Ā½ cup of dark chocolate chips into the batter.
- Add a handful of chopped toasted nuts like walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts.
- Make mini loaves by filling your mini loaf pan. Just be sure to reduce the cooking time to about 25 minutes.
Love brown butter?
If you love the wonderful flavor of brown butter as much as we do, make sure to try our brown butter sea salt chocolate chip cookies!
When to serve brown butter banana bread
There's absolutely no right or wrong time to enjoy a slice of this browned butter banana bread. It's a comforting afternoon snack that will satisfy any sweet tooth and travels well as a snack on the go.
It also goes exceptionally well with coffee and tea so we've even been known to enjoy a slice (or two) for breakfast!
Recipe FAQs
Can I use yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yep! We recommend using Greek yogurt in place of sour cream because it has a similar thick texture.
Can I add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg?
You certainly can, but we chose not to add spices so the flavor of the brown butter can really shine.
Can I make this banana bread ahead of time?
Absolutely! Store the banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you're serving it with the glaze, wait until just before serving to frost it.
Can I freeze banana bread?
Yes, banana bread freezes beautifully. Wrap it or store it in an airtight container in your freezer for up to three months!
More banana bread recipes
Brown Butter Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- Ā½ cup butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- Ā½ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 large bananas (1 Ā¼ cups mashed)
- 2 large eggs
- Ā½ cup EACH: brown sugar and granulated sugar
- Ā½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Brown Butter Glaze
- Ā¼ cup butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 5"x9" loaf pan. Place the butter into a large frying pan over medium heat. (See notes!) The butter will first melt and then foam up a lot, which is why you want a larger pan. When the foam subsides, the butter will be brown. We like it to be very brown so we keep the pan on the heat for another minute. Let the butter cool slightly before using it.Ā½ cup butter
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, Ā½ teaspoon sea salt
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas then whisk in the brown butter, eggs, both the sugars, sour cream, and vanilla.3 large bananas, 2 large eggs, Ā½ cup EACH: brown sugar and granulated sugar, Ā½ cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon vanilla
- Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until they are just combined. Do not over mix the batter.
- Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Check the bread after 45 minutes and if it is golden brown on top, tent it loosely with a piece of foil to prevent it from browning too much. Let it cool for 10 minutes in the loaf pan then remove it and cool it completely on a wire rack before slicing it.
Brown Butter Glaze
- Add the brown butter to a mixing bowl ā it should be hardened to room temperature. Add the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla and use an electric mixer to cream it together. If you'd like it thinner, add a little more milk. Either frost the top of the banana bread or serve it on the side to spread it on the slices.Ā¼ cup butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla
Video
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our banana bread recipes!
What the brown butter added to the taste is amazing, well worth the effort.
The browned butter makes this so good!!!
This was such a unique and unexpected twist to a classic recipe! Turned out light, moist and fluffy; easily, a new favorite recipe!
We love Brown Butter Banana Bread recipe, so delicious and easy to make. Will be making this bread again really soon. Thanks for sharing š
Omg this banana bread was amazing!! Making it with brown butter added such a nice flavor and moistness — this might be my new favorite way to make banana bread!
Oh my, it’s banana-toffee, this was so good! Thanks for sharing!
That glaze was divine! I could have eaten it with a spoon.
I definitely need more of this in my life. Can’t wait to make it again for Christmas brunch!
This was so good. I love anything with banana and I the brown butter makes it even more flavorful!
I hadn’t baked banana bread in a long time. Yours really hit the spot – the flavor is incredible!