Attention: This ain’t your ordinary banana bread recipe! Super moist, tender, and packed with heaps of deep brown sugar flavor can be found within this brown sugar banana bread. So quick, easy to make and finished with a deliciously dreamy topping of melted brown butter that takes this banana bread recipe to another level!

banana bread on brown parchment paper

Okay, so don’t judge me but years ago, I used to think that banana bread was for a certain population only. The elderly population to be more succinct. I know, I know, I’m terrible for thinking that but here me out because we’ve all had our preconceived notions. Whenever I saw banana bread it was always associated with someones grandma, mom, or some elder making it. From then on out, I just sort of immaturely put it into the category with fig newtons and others, ha!

Fast forward to years of growth in mindset and many many experiences with making my very own banana bread; hello cookie butter swirled banana bread, and how you doin’ nutella banana bread muffins. It’s ironic to say that considering my previous thoughts on this homemade staple, that banana bread is probably one of my most favorite bakes to make. Not to mention the smell of banana bread baking in the oven on the weekend is one of the greatest joys in life. And it’s a must that I have some hot hazelnut coffee or chai tea to go along with it too! For me, it’s always the little things.

brown sugar banana bread sliced on a marble counter top

How Is This Brown Sugar Banana Bread Different?

As the name says, this banana bread recipe uses all brown sugar as opposed to white granulated sugar. Brown sugar is simply sugar that has a molasses content in it. Thus yielding that signature brown color and more richer robust taste. Packed brown sugar is also moist because of the molasses which changes the liquid content in it. Therefore, the reason granulated sugar has loose granules and is more dry is because it does not have molasses. All in all, using all brown sugar leaves us with a super flavorful loaf of banana bread that’s supremely rich!

What Kind Of Bananas Are The Best To Use?

Okay, so this question is a little odd since there is only one kind of banana. However, what I really mean here is, you’ll want to use very very very ripe bananas. As in, they’re pretty much all dark throughout with no traces of yellow anywhere; and NOT like the ones in my photos here, ha! Super ripe bananas yield the most flavorful and scrumptious kinds of banana bread y’all. Look, I don’t even consider making banana bread unless my bananas are at that kind of level.

Brown Sugar Banana Bread Ingredients:

First up and the obvious, super duper ripe bananers, remember! Or bananas if you wanna be all PC on me.

Crème fraîche to add some more moisture to ensure that there is no dry banana bread going on here. Alternatively, if you can’t find any crème fraîche in your grocery store, you can always use good ole sour cream. The former is also a soured cream dairy product but crème fraîche has a higher fat content than sour cream. Either one works nice!

For the brown sugar, you can use either light or dark brown sugar. And as a reminder, light brown sugar has less molasses in it than dark brown sugar. Thus being the reason why dark brown sugar has a darker color than it’s light brown counterpart. Tell me, is learning all about types of sugar as fun for you as it is for me? Hehe.

Additionally, my recipe also calls for the usual baking staples like all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, eggs, and oil. And spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract for added flavor, too!

top view of a loaf of brown sugar banana bread on parchment paper

How To Make This Banana Bread Recipe:

It’s so easy and does not require or stand mixer, ayeeee! In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, spices, and set aside. Then in a large bowl, add bananas and mash all bananas with a fork. In the same bowl; add brown sugar, crème fraîche/sour cream, eggs, oil, vanilla extract, and stir to combine everything.

Take the dry ingredients and pour it into the wet ingredients and stir again to fully combine all ingredients just until flour dissolves and all is incorporated. Lastly, add brown sugar banana bread batter into a greased loaf pan and bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The smell is insane!

Okay, now let’s talk about that topping of brown butter that I mentioned above. As soon as this gorgeous loaf of banana bread comes out of the oven, a generous amount of nutty brown butter is poured all over the top of it. That brown butter soaks into the loaf while hot and adds another crazy amount of FLAVOR to it. This is totally optional though…but I strongly encourage you to listen to me on this. The brown sugar plus the brown butter is a match made in heaven, peeps.

And making brown butter is easy. You literally just melt a stick of butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat while stirring until it rids itself of its water content. Eventually the butter will start to brown; you’ll begin to smell a nutty aroma, and start to see little brown bits build up. Then BOOM, you’ve made yourself some brown butter!

loaf of banana bread sitting on a wire cooling rack with knife

REMEMBER TO LEAVE A ⭐️STAR RATING⭐️AND TAG ME ON THE ‘GRAM IF YOU MAKE ANY OF MY RECIPES! I ALWAYS LOVE TO SEE IT WHEN YOU DO!

Until next time…love and butter,

Q.

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banana bread on brown parchment paper

Brown Sugar Banana Bread

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 1x
  • Category: Breakfast, Brunch
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Attention: This ain’t your ordinary banana bread recipe! Super moist, tender, and packed with heaps of deep brown sugar flavor can be found within this brown sugar banana bread. So quick, easy to make and finished with a deliciously dreamy topping of melted brown butter that takes this banana bread recipe to another level!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 4 extra ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 heaping tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar, light or dark
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • *Optional: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and browned

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or baking spray. You can also use parchment paper, if desired.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and then set bowl aside.
  3. In a large bowl, add bananas and mash finely with a fork. Add in crème fraîche/sour cream, brown sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together to fully combine.
  4. Place the flour mixture into the banana mixture and stir to combine just until all flour dissolves and all is well incorporated. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center of loaf comes out clean.
  5. *Optional: For the browned butter: melt butter in a small light colored saucepan (so you can see the color of the butter) over medium heat while whisking frequently. The butter will begin to get foamy. Continue to stir and watch for little brown bits to form and a nutty aroma. Once it reaches this stage remove it from the heat to prevent it from burning. 
  6. Gently pour or brush browned butter all over top of brown sugar banana bread as soon as it comes out. Let cool for at least 10-15 minutes, then slice and enjoy!

Notes

  1. You can halve a fresh unripe banana and place the slices flesh-side up directly on top of raw batter as pictured in my photos. You’ll have two pieces so just place them in either direction on top of the loaf before baking.

Keywords: breakfast, brunch, baking, banana bread