Banana bread with streusel is a sweet moist loaf cake made with tones of ripe bananas and brown sugar. 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 Banana Bread Recipe Works
- Brown sugar is a key! It brings a caramelized flavor and compliments banana sweetness.
- Rum infuses the bread with a fruity flavor.
- Using ripe bananas adds moisture and an additional boost of sweetness.
- Streusel baked on top of the bread adds crunchiness and intractable charm to the dessert.
How to Make 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 Banana Bread With Streusel
- Soften the butter by taking it out of the fridge 2 hour before cooking.
- Omit dark or any other kind of rum if you serve the cake to kids.
- Crush bananas with a fork, an electric handheld mixer or a potato masher.
- Do not over mix the cake batter when you add crushed bananas. Gently mix just to combine.
- Split the recipe into two smaller loaves or make banana muffins if you prefer.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cool the baked Banana Bread completely before slicing.
- 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.
More Delicious Loaf Cake Recipes You’ll Love
- Pear Pound Cake: Fruity Sweet Loaf
- Almond Pound Cake Ispahan
- Hazelnut loaf cake with hazelnut ganache
- Browse all the Cake Recipes
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PinDescription
Banana bread with streusel is a sweet loaf cake made with tones of ripe bananas and brown sugar. It is deeply flavored with the dark rum and topped with a crispy crumbly topping. This Banana Bread is calling for you!
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 150 g softened butter
- 200 g brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 240 g all-purpose flour
- 10 g baking powder
- 285 g bananas
- 25 g dark rum
For the streusel:
- 40 g all-purpose flour
- 40 g almond flour
- 40 g icing sugar
- 40 g semi-salted butter
For the decoration:
- flaked roasted almonds
- icing sugar
Instructions
- 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 *. Add all-purpose flour (240 g) mixed with baking powder, eggs, and delicately mix with a spatula. Crush bananas with a fork and add to the main preparation. Add rum and mix with a spatula until combined. 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.
- 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 and bake for 90 minutes. The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Sprinkle top of the cake with flaked roasted almonds and dust with icing sugar.
Notes
- Soften the butter by taking it out of the fridge 2 hour before cooking.
- Omit dark or any other kind of rum if you serve the cake to kids.
- Crush bananas with a fork, an electric handheld mixer or a potato masher.
- Do not over mix the cake batter when you add crushed bananas. Gently mix just to combine.
- Split the recipe into two smaller loaves or make banana muffins if you prefer.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cool the baked Banana Bread completely before slicing.
- Serve with a dollop of mascarpone or slabs of salted butter.
Nutrition
- Calories: 317
- Sugar: 22.5 g
- Sodium: 108 mg
- Fat: 14.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 8.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43.6 g
- Fiber: 1.4 g
- Protein: 3.9 g
- Cholesterol: 61 mg
Keywords: banana bread, banana bread recipe, easy banana bread, best banana bread recipe, how to make banana bread
The recipe is taken from https://www.lacuisinedethomas.fr and translated from French. It is re-written by me, but the authorship of the recipe belongs to Christophe Michalak. All posted pictures are mine.
The recipe was originally published in January, 2019. It has been revised to include improved content and photos.
Jennifer says
Oh my, this sounds delicious! I just bought a bottle of dark rum over the weekend coincidentally, so I’m definitely going to give this a try. Banana bread is my husband’s favorite quick bread.
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Jennifer, you will love it! It is flavored and moist. Enjoy!
Dannii says
What a great twist on banana bread. I am going to have to try this.
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
There are so many Banana Bread recipes. I hope you will love this version of the most popular bread!
kim says
Banana bread is my favorite and this was such a great recipe!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Kim, I am happy to hear that you liked the recipe! It is always a pleasure to hear from readers! Thank you.
Michelle says
I’ve never thought of putting streusel on banana bread, but IT IS GENIUS!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Michelle, you will love this streusel on top! Just enjoy!
Jessica Formicola says
I love a good banana bread recipe, but that streusel really sends this one over the top! I can’t wait to try it!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Jessica,I hope you will love the recipe! Please, let me know once you make it!
Elaine says
Ah, banana bread… can a morning be any better than with a piece of this delicious bread! Can’t wait to make this recipe at home – I will make sure to prepare twice as much! 🙂
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Elaine, you made me smiling! You will love this banana bread from the first bite!
Beth Pierce says
Enjoyed this with my morning cup of coffee this morning! Delicious and perfectly crunchy!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Beth, I am happy to hear that you loved it! Thanks for letting me know.
Annissa says
I love the addition of rum to this banana bread! It adds so much to a recipe. No kids at home anymore, so I’m using it!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Yes, I am in the same boat; so, I add the dark rum in the dessert, but it is easy to omit the alcohol in case with kids.
Jamie says
I love the streusel in this recipe! So crumbly and adds such great texture! We’ll be making this again. 🙂
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Jamie, I am happy to hear that you like the recipe! Enjoy!:)
Krissy Allori says
This looks so good! I think my coffee just found a new best friend.
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
I am glad to hear! Enjoy your coffee time!:)
Raia Todd says
I love the addition of rum, and the streusel topping! So delicious!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
I agree that a deep flavor of rum and crunchiness of streusel are the best in this banana bread.
Morgan Eisenberg says
Rum is a great idea, but streusel is a total game changer
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Thank you Morgan! I believe that a deep flavor of the dark rum brings any baking good to another level. And this streusel topping… so crunchy and delicious!
Kelly Anthony says
I love banana bread but I’ve never had it with a streusel topping. I’m sure the crumbly top takes this classic recipe to a new level.
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Yes, Kelly, this streusel topping adds an additional crunchiness to a traditional banana bread. Something new!:)
kim says
I love banana bread and this one is so good! A must make for sure!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Kim, this banana bread is really GOOD! You will love it for sure!
Patty at Spoonabilities says
This sounds like such a wonderful banana bread recipe! I love trying different recipe variations for one of my all-time favorite things like banana bread.
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
I agree with you Patty! I also love to try new recipes and experiment with ingredients!
Eden | Sweet Tea and Thyme says
Nothing like a good slice of banana bread to start to school year! Pinning!
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
What could be better to pack a slice of flavored banana bread and send a kid to school? I agree with you Eden. You might want to skip rum to make the cake kid-friendly!:) Thanks.
pam says
Streusel topping on banana bread?!!! That’s genius!!! I can’t wait to try this because streusel topping is my favorite part of any cake or cupcake!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
This streusel topping adds such a wonderful crunchiness to Banana bread that you will fall in love with this recipe forever!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain says
This Banana Bread recipe sounds amazing! So moist and that crumble topping? OMG! Don’t know why streusel toppings are not more of a thing with banana bread!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Oh, WOW! I have not known that streusel toppings are old-fashioned:); however, my family ask to make the Banana bread because of this crispy topping!
kim says
What a delicious bread recipe! Loving that streusel topping!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
I know, Kim. Everyone who tries this Banana bread, falls in love with this streusel topping!
SHANIKA says
I love making Banana Bread and this recipe looks absolutely delicious! That streusel topping—OMG!
★★★★★
Irina | Baking Like a Chef says
Oh, Shanika, this Banana bread is a hit because of its streusel topping! Thanks.