As the months get a little colder, warm treats like pumpkin bread, cookies, apple cider donuts and pie all begin to sound even more appealing. One of the most comforting and delicious desserts is banana bread. The thing about banana bread, though, is that it can either go very wrong or very right. I have had banana bread that was either too plain, too soggy or verging on burnt.
I found myself craving banana bread recently when Carrie Smith, my friend and fellow third-year College student, saved the day. Carrie loves to whip up her own recipes, and they never fail to impress me. So, it is no shocker that her banana bread recipe beat any I had tried in the past.
After experimenting with measurements and adding spices, Carrie finally crafted what I think is the world’s best banana bread. It’s golden and crispy on the outside and fluffy and moist on the inside. One of the secrets of this recipe is the addition of pumpkin spice which adds a slightly spicy flavor — perfect for autumn. This recipe is easy to follow and would be a great addition to any fall or winter night with friends.
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Bake Time: 75 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 stick butter
2 eggs
3 1/2 large ripe bananas
1 tablespoon half and half
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Bananas should be almost covered with brown dots, if not fully brown
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
- Using a mixer, beat sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time.
- In a separate bowl, mash the bananas and mix them with milk and pumpkin spice.
- Add the banana mixture to the creamy mixture and stir until fully incorporated. Then mix in the dry ingredients.
- Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan
- For a delicious crust on your loaf, place shavings of butter and sprinkle brown sugar on top before baking
- Bake the bread for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted in the loaf and come out clean
- Take the loaf out of the pan and let cool for 10 minutes
- Enjoy with friends — or alone!
Overall, this banana bread recipe is better than most of the banana breads I have tried from bakeries and various moms. You could even adapt the recipe to include add-ins such as nuts or chocolate chips. Whether it is a morning treat or a late night snack, this banana bread recipe will never fail to hit the spot. So spice up your fall with this sweet treat — it might even beat your mom’s recipe!
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