So I seriously considered not writing anything today. I thought long and hard about just posting the pictures and recipe. Dropping my mic and walking out. 
I just couldn’t with the words and the forming sentences. I just wanted to eat and eat and eat more of this AMAZING banana bread.
I’ve been holding out on this recipe because it is so special to me. It’s not because I didn’t want to share. It’s not because I am a banana bread hoarder. Is that even a thing??!!?? It is more that this is my childhood in a loaf pan. Is that a thing??!!?? Basically, banana bread makes me happy.
Every time I make this banana bread, I do a few things differently. I stop doing what ever it is I’m doing, I sit down and enjoy the experience. I have three kids, most meals are on the run. Its not intended to be like that but there is always something going on. Usually meals look like: the kids asking for extra juice/cheese/ketchup- then JB then pours her juice/cheese/ketchup in her food or hair. That is followed up by me running to clean up her mess. Then I sit down again, take a bite and it starts all over. One day I will eat like a normal person again. My mom promised so it must be true. I am keeping the hope alive.
Ever so often I’ll make something and it blows my mind. Isn’t it weird that something as simple as my Grandma’s banana bread can invoke super strong emotions. I get all the feels.
Some recipes hold so many memories for me. Grandma made this every Saturday morning without fail. The house was filled with it. It was a amazing to wake up to that smell. When I was pregnant with Jonathan and I couldn’t hold anything down she made this for me every three days. I literally lived on this bread alone. Amen!
Okay so back to this banana bread though. It has everything in it- nutty brown butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, orange zest, molasses, vanilla, buttermilk and super ripe bananas. I had to stop myself from eating all the batter. Warning: This is an exercise extreme self control.
Can we talk about the smell for just a second? First, I slightly lost my mind when I was making the brown butter. It has the sweetest smells. Then when I measured the cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom and mixed them together. I sat there for another minute just BEING. Then I mixed them altogether … when the banana, mixes with the vanilla and spices and the butter. Bliss!!!
I spent a few minutes wondering how to bottle this little gem. Here is what I worked out- I would spend all day baking banana breads. Then I would capture the smell–put it in a bottle. I wouldn’t sell it. Everyone should have this in their life. It would be like having joy in a bottle. It is comfort in a bottle. Life goals!
Most of the time the best recipes are the simplest. The best recipes are made out of love with the intention of bringing joy, giving you comfort and most importantly filling you. My grandma’s bread always did those things and for that I could never express accurately how special this is.
Enjoy!
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 3 super ripe bananas about 1 1/2 cups
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 7 ounces unsalted butter melted and browned
- Zest of 1 orange
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Brown butter: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Butter will begin to foam and crackle as it melts. The butter will begin to brown, watch carefully. Stir the butter as it cooks. When the butter browns and begins to smell nutty, remove the pan from the flame and transfer the butter to a bowl. Allow to cool.
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Prep: Place the oven rack in the center slot and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set aside.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients- flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
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Smash the banana and molasses together in a bowl. Whisk in eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk. Whisk in the cooled browned butter.
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Add the wet ingredients, all at once to the dry ingredients. Fold together ingredients, but try not to over stir.
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Pour in the batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. I start checking at the 45 minute mark. Remove pan from the oven and allow to sit in the pan for 10 minutes, before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
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Serve slightly warm with butter because why not! Enjoy!
Yum
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I really appreciate how you conveyed the whole experience of making this along with the final result- banana bread is a complete comfort for me as well:) Wondering how it would taste with a bit of chocolate chips? Thank you for deciding to share!
Thank you Brittany! I have never met a recipe ruined by chocolate chips. lol! And you are so welcome, thanks for stopping by. 🙂
I totally get that. I get sentimental about food too (too often for my own good!). And yes, the best recipes are the simplest ones 🙂 And the ones passed down. This looks delicious. And brown butter? I’m totally sold 🙂
I’m so glad that you like it Jolina! I get all the feels wen I eat this bread. lol! And brown butters literally EVERYTHING to me right now. I’m currently hunting down a brown butter scented candle. hahaha! 🙂
Banana Bread is one of my favorite things ever!!!! Pinning!!!!
Me too Anna! It is just so simple and Yummers! So glad you liked it. 🙂
This Banana Bread looks amazing! And I love your food photos! Love Love Love everything about this post, even if you didn’t want to write it initially.
Thank you so much Tanya! I am so glad you liked it. I’m a really introverted person so when a recipe means the world to me I get all weird about it. hahahaha!
Pinning. With my morning coffee, I can’t think of anything better than banana bread.
Hmmm banana bread in the morning is amazing! I’m so glad you liked it Maggie. 🙂
How delicious! Banana bread is my favorite!
This looks amazing. I LOVE banana bread!
Thank you so much Christine! I’m so happy that you liked it. 🙂
I love banana bread. I’ll definitely be giving this a go! The inclusion of orange zest is interesting
Orange zest rocks my world every time! I’m glad you liked it Hannah. 🙂
I love banana bread. Been looking for a great recipe to try. Glad I found this one.
Awesome sauce Melanie! Glad our paths crossed. 🙂
Oh, this looks so good! I never thought about putting molasses and orange zest in it! Sounds delicious!!
Hiya Deja! I’m so glad you like it. The orange zest gives the bread a bright taste.
We love banana bread! This one looks delish!
We go crazy for it in my house too Kathleen. 🙂
I just made banana bread and muffins today. We use whole wheat.
Yay for banana bread Candy. I want to play around with some whole wheat banana muffins tomorrow.
Oh this looks & sound really fantastic!