Brown Sugar Banana Bread With Streusel

Brown Sugar Banana Bread with streusel is a sweet moist loaf cake made with tones of ripe bananas. It is deeply flavored with the dark rum and topped with a crispy crumbly topping. This Banana bread is just calling for you!

It was two to three years ago, when I was given some Banana Bread recipe from my friend Vanessa A. I was happy with that one till I decided to experiment with other Banana bread loaves.

Finally, I discovered the one – Banana bread by the French chef Christophe Michalak – that has stolen my heart. This loaf cake has a charm: it has a streusel on top. Trust me when I say that it is the BEST Banana bread recipe EVER!

What is Streusel

Streusel is a crumbly topping made of fat, flour, and sugar that baked on top of cakes, muffins, pies, etc. It was first popularized in Germany. The streusel adds crunchiness, richness and texture to the baked goods.

How to Make Streusel Topping

It is really simply to make a streusel topping. Place the equal quantity of the semi-salted cold butter, almond flour *, icing sugar and all-purpose flour in a bowl and mix with hands, making the crumbly dough (it will look like wet sand). Use it on top of any loaf cake, bread or muffins and bake.

What to Add to Banana Bread

• Add chopped walnuts, pecans or macadamia nuts to the batter in order to increase the crunchiness of Banana Bread.
• You are free to experiment with the cake by adding dried pineapple or shredded coconut *.
• If you are a chocolate lover, you are more than welcomed to mix in chocolate chips or swirl the Nutella through the cake batter before baking.
• Do you want more ideas? Blend in a little allspice, cinnamon or nutmeg.  Just be creative to create your own Banana Bread!

Why Brown Sugar Banana Bread Recipe Works

1. Brown sugar is a key! It brings a caramelized flavor and compliments banana sweetness. 
2. Rum infuses the bread with a fruity flavor.
3. Using ripe bananas adds moisture and an additional boost of sweetness.
4. Streusel baked on top of the bread adds crunchiness and intractable charm to the dessert.

How to Make Brown Sugar Banana Bread With Streusel – Step by Step

Preheat oven to 300 F/150 C. To make the cake batter, in a large bowl, beat softened butter and brown sugar 5 minutes, using an electric mixer * (photo 1). Add all-purpose flour (240 g) mixed with baking powder *, eggs (photo 2)…

and delicately mix with a rubber spatula * (photo 3). Crush bananas with a fork and add to the main preparation (photo 3).

Add rum and mix with the spatula until combined (photo 5). Place the cake batter in the fridge, while making the streusel.

To make the streusel, in a separate bowl, mix all-purpose flour (40 g) and almond flour *. Add icing sugar and semi-salted butter and make the crumbly dough between hands (photo 6).

Butter and flour a silicone loaf pan * or line a nonstick loaf pan * with parchment paper *. Pour the cake batter into the pan, place the streusel on top (photo 7) and bake for 90 minutes. The cake is ready when a tester/a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean (photo 8).

Sprinkle top of the cake with flaked roasted almonds and dust with icing sugar.

Important Tips to Make Brown Sugar Banana Bread With Streusel

1. Soften the butter by taking it out of the fridge 2 hour before cooking.
2. Omit dark or any other kind of rum if you serve the cake to kids.
3. Crush bananas with a fork, an electric handheld mixer or a potato masher.
4. Do not over mix the cake batter when you add crushed bananas. Gently mix just to combine.
5. Split the recipe into two smaller loaves or make banana muffins if you prefer.
6. Adjust the baking time of your oven. The original chef’s recipe recommends to bake the cake for 45 to 50 minutes; although, it has been tested and re-tested by me that the cake is ready in 90 minutes.
7. Test the cake for readiness! Use a toothpick: if it inserted in the middle of the cake, comes out clean, the bread is ready. If it still has the batter on it, add another 3 to 5 minutes and test again.
8. Cool the baked Banana Bread completely before slicing.
9. Serve with a dollop of mascarpone or slabs of salted butter.

Frequently Asked Question

Is it Hard to Make Banana Bread?

No, it is quite easy! Just mix all the ingredients, add mashed bananas, pour the batter in a loaf pan and bake.

What Bananas to Use in Banana Bread?

The answer is simple: the ripest ones! The bananas ready to go to the trash are the perfect ones for Banana Bread. Look for bananas with black/brown spots; they do look ugly, but they taste sweeter and improve the flavor of the cake. If you only have yellow bananas, and you have no time to wait for them to ripen, just bake the unpeeled bananas at 250 F/120 C for 20 minutes. Then peel, mash them and make Banana Bread.

How to Store Banana Bread?

Place Banana bread in a plastic bag or wrap with a food film and store the cake at room temperature for 1 to 2 days. If you want to prolong the shelf life of Banana bread, store the wrapped cake in the fridge for up to one week.

Is it OK To Freeze Banana Bread?

Yes, it is completely fine to freeze Banana bread. Just wrap a whole loaf or slices of the cake with an aluminum foil or a plastic freezer wrap and place in the freezer. Banana bread could be safely stored in this way for up to 2 to 3 months. Thaw wrapped or unwrapped cake in the fridge or at room temperature.

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The recipe was adapted from https://www.lacuisinedethomas.fr It was originally published in January, 2019. The recipe has been revised to include improved content and photos. All posted pictures are mine.