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🍰 Desserts & bakes

Samin Nosrat banana bread

Soft crumb, brown sugar top, banana on banana crime

⏱️ Time estimate: about 1 hour 15 minutes

A tender banana bread with oil, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, buttermilk, and an optional banana baked cut-side up across the top.

Samin Nosrat banana bread loaf with banana slices baked on top

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, plus 1/2 teaspoon for topping
  • 1 1/3 cups mashed ripe bananas, from about 3 large bananas
  • Optional 1 whole ripe banana for topping
  • 3/4 cup neutral oil
  • 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for topping
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt for topping

Instructions

  1. Prep the pan. Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a large bowl.
  3. Mix the wet ingredients. In another bowl, whisk the mashed bananas, oil, brown sugar, vanilla, eggs, and buttermilk until combined.
  4. Combine. Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients just until no dry flour remains, then scrape into the loaf pan.
  5. Top it. If using, slice the extra banana lengthwise and lay it cut-side up on the batter. Mix the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and flaky salt, then sprinkle over the top.
  6. Bake. Bake for 30 minutes, rotate the pan, then bake another 30 to 35 minutes until a tester comes out clean and the loaf pulls from the sides.
  7. Cool. Let the loaf cool before slicing, if you possess that kind of self-control.

Swap in plain yogurt for buttermilk if needed, and frozen defrosted bananas are fully welcome here.