Banana Bread with Brown Sugar Glaze Recipe

Banana Bread with Brown Sugar Glaze Recipe

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This recipe creates a moist and flavorful banana bread, often studded with chocolate chips or nuts, and topped with a rich and decadent brown sugar glaze. It’s a classic comfort food perfect for breakfast, snacking, or dessert, making good use of overripe bananas. The glaze adds an extra layer of sweetness and a smooth, glossy finish.

Ingredients:

For the Banana Bread:

  • 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter (or vegetable oil)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt  
  • Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips, chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans)

For the Brown Sugar Glaze:

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

For the Banana Bread:

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan (or line with parchment paper for easier removal).
  2. Mash Bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: Stir in the melted butter (or oil), granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract into the mashed bananas until well combined.
  4. Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.  
  6. Add Optional Ingredients: If using chocolate chips or nuts, gently fold them into the batter.
  7. Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
  8. Bake: Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Brown Sugar Glaze:

  1. Melt Butter and Sugar: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is smooth.  
  2. Add Milk and Vanilla: Stir in the milk and vanilla extract. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add Powdered Sugar: Remove the saucepan from the heat and gradually whisk in the powdered sugar until the glaze is smooth and reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more milk; if it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.
  4. Glaze the Bread: Once the banana bread is completely cooled, drizzle the brown sugar glaze evenly over the top. You can let the glaze set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips and Notes:

  • Ripe Bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and moister the bread will be. Bananas with brown spots are ideal.
  • Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough bread.
  • Cool Completely: Ensure the banana bread is fully cooled before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting and running off.
  • Glaze Consistency: Adjust the amount of powdered sugar or milk in the glaze to achieve your preferred thickness.
  • Storage: Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. The glaze might become slightly sticky in the refrigerator.  

Enjoy this delicious Banana Bread with Brown Sugar Glaze!

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