Caramelized Walnut Banana Bread

🕒 Prep: 15 min
🔥 Cook: 1 hour 10 min
🍽 Serves: 10
★★★★★
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This Caramelized Walnut Banana Bread is the perfect blend of sweet, nutty, and comforting flavors. The caramelized walnuts add a delightful crunch that elevates the classic banana bread to a whole new level. It's ideal for breakfast, a snack, or a cozy dessert.

Ingredients for Caramelized Walnut Banana Bread

Bananas: The riper, the better! They add natural sweetness and moisture to the bread.

Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps achieve that soft, tender crumb.

Granulated sugar: Sweetens the bread and helps with the structure.

Eggs: Bind everything together and add moisture.

Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a warm, aromatic touch.

All-purpose flour: Provides the necessary structure for the bread.

Baking soda: Helps the bread rise beautifully.

Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors.

Whole milk: Adds moisture and richness to the batter.

Walnuts: Provide a nutty flavor and crunchy texture once caramelized.

Brown sugar: Used to caramelize the walnuts, adding depth and sweetness.

Cinnamon: Adds warmth and a hint of spice to the walnuts.

Tips & Tricks

  • Use very ripe bananas for the best sweetness and flavor.
  • Don’t overmix the batter; it can make the bread tough.
  • If the top is browning too quickly, tent it with foil halfway through baking.
  • Toasting the walnuts before caramelizing can enhance their flavor even more.

Serving Suggestions

This banana bread pairs wonderfully with a spread of cream cheese or a dollop of whipped cream. It's also delightful with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. If you're feeling adventurous, try it with a smear of peanut butter for a protein-packed snack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen bananas?
Yes, just make sure to thaw and drain them before mashing.
What if I don’t have whole milk?
You can substitute with any milk you have on hand, though the texture may vary slightly.
Is it okay to use salted butter?
If using salted butter, you may want to reduce the added salt in the recipe.

Caramelized Walnut Banana Bread Recipe Walkthrough

First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. A well-greased pan ensures your bread will come out smoothly later. In a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat, then add the walnuts and brown sugar. Stir them constantly for about 5 minutes until the nuts are caramelized. Set them aside to cool.

Next, grab a large bowl and mash the bananas until they're smooth. Stir in the melted butter, granulated sugar, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract until everything is well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, alternating with the milk, until it's just combined. You don't want to overmix here.

Now, fold in those caramelized walnuts gently. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake it for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Rich, caramelized nuts add a delightful crunch and flavor contrast.
  • Uses simple ingredients you likely have on hand.
  • Perfect balance of moist banana bread with a sweet, nutty twist.
  • Great way to use up those ripe bananas sitting on your counter.

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp butter

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat. Add walnuts and brown sugar, stirring constantly for about 5 minutes until caramelized. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth.
4. Stir in melted butter, granulated sugar, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, alternating with milk, mixing until just combined.
7. Fold in the caramelized walnuts gently.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
9. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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