I’ve unpacked the moving boxes of the essentials: sock slippers, gin, loaf pan, spatula, and mixing bowl. I’ve managed to find the fancy candles I love, a few pictures of my family, and the face wash. The cookbooks are lined up on the book shelf, color-coded just like Shutterbean taught me.
I’m just far enough in the whole moving process to miss home. Strange because I am home. It’s just that I have to build up a familiarity to this new space. I don’t yet know its nuances.
What I do know is that I’m mostly responsible for feeling at home where I’m home. It’s a state of mind. It’s coming to understand the different shade of light. It’s the different sounds of the street. It’s the familiar smell of comfort. Banana Bread feels like home, so Banana Bread it is!
We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel here. This banana bread is more about settling in and planting roots. It’s tastes just like home to me, and so it is!
I love that banana bread comes together rather effortlessly. A bowl, fork, and spoon and we’re in business.
Good news for all of us, right?
Mashed bananas are stirred together with granulated sugar and molasses. I realized too late that I’m fresh out of brown sugar. We can make our own…. or just stir it all together with gumption.
Butter is melted until it’s golden brown and smells juuuuust nutty. I love the depth that brown butter adds to the banana bread. Extra goodness, that’s all it is.
Oh! I don’t have buttermilk either. I squeezed a big wedge of lime into a bit of milk. Buttermilk substitutions are key.
Eggs and butter into the banana mash.
No nuts. No toasted coconut. Nothing too fancy. Just cinnamon spiced, brown butter magic banana bread.
The smell that fills the kitchen is home exactly.
I thought about sharing this loaf with my neighbors, but there’s plenty of future for that. I just needed to sit in from of this warm loaf and breathe it in. The texture is dense but soft. It’s lightly cinnamon spiced and hearty in the way that feels just right in the morning. This banana bread is sweet and I find it’s best paired with a cup of milky coffee. Slice into thick wedges. No need to be coy. We’re home.
Brown Butter Banana Bread
makes 1 9×5-inch loaf
6 ounces unsalted butter, melted and browned to just over 1/2 cup of butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 1/4 cup mashed banana (from about 3 medium bananas)
2 teaspoons molasses
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Butter will begin to foam and crackle as it melts. When the crackling subsides, the butter will begin to brown. Swirl the pan as the butter cooks. When the butter browns and begins to smell nutty, remove the pan from the flame and transfer the butter to a small bowl. Taking the butter out of the hot saucepan will stop the butter from overcooking and burning. Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla extract, and buttermilk. Whisk in the mashed bananas and molasses. When butter has cooled, whisk in the browned butter.
Add the wet ingredients, all at once to the dry ingredients. Fold together, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to reveal any hidden pockets of flour. Fold together ingredients, but try not to over stir.
Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to rest in the pan for 15 minutes, before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Bread will last 4 days, well wrapped at room temperature. This loaf also freezes well.
Monica
Normally I pass on recipes with comments that don’t indicate anyone has made it and their results, but since I trust Joy and this site, I made this banana bread today. It’s excellent, love the addition of the molasses giving it a deeper flavor. I usually enjoy finely chopped walnuts or pecans but I hadn’t any, and I’m not hating this at all. Thanks for another great recipe! (The Best Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe has been the absolute standard in my kitchen, turning me from lukewarm on chocolate chip cookies to craving them.)
Debra
Just made this today – a tasty diversion from all of the chaos and unknown going on around us. I had to improvise a little because I didn’t have all of the ingredients on hand, but it still turned out amazing! (Used maple syrup as a sub for molasses and half and half for the buttermilk).
Thank you Joy.
Stay safe everyone.
Meghan
Thanks Joy! Made during our COVID-19 quarantine today. In an effort to preserve our all-purpose stash for the next couple of weeks, we used 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour and 1.5 c all-purpose with closer to 1.5c bananas. The kids devoured it and couldn’t tell any difference from previous versions of this recipe.
Rebekah
I appreciate you making and sharing this bread this weekend. I am baking it off right now in 4 mini loaf pans, one to keep and three to share. Nothing like cinnamon-scented baked goods to foster community.
Nikki Jo
I think this may be the best banana bread I’ve ever made. I used the glaze and crumble topping from your Over Easy cookbook. Holy bananas. It’s delicious!
sinaasappeljetzt
Hi, I just want to thank you for this awesome recipe! I’ve been making it since you posted it a lot of times – just made one this morning :-) I love the addition of nutmeg and molasses, such a great flavour combination. Recently, I sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on top of the batter before baking, makes a wonderful crispy lid.
Amanda Baker
I have made this 3 times now and since my son is allergic to eggs, we’ve used the suggested substitution of ground chia seeds and water. It consistently comes out absolutely delicious. Thank you so much. Your knowledge on baking with vegan substitutions has been so helpful for us.
Mariah
I just made this. SO good!
Sandra
This is still the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever made. I have tried SO many and I keep coming back to this one. It’s the best! I wish I could buy a candle that would keep my house smelling like it does after I bake a loaf of this! Dreamy!!
Alaina
I never know how to convert a quickbread to muffins and am scared to guess. Halp!
joythebaker
It’s easy, just put it in a muffin pan! Don’t over think it.
Joanna
I have a favorite banana bread recipe I’ve been using for more than a decade and after making your version tonight, I must say that this tops it. DELICIOUS!! Best midnight snack of my life! Thank you!!!
Janet
I just made this recipe and added extra large chocolate chips! Thanks for sharing this, it made me very popular at work!
joythebaker
lovely!
Natalie
This looks amazing! Quick question: in the recipe it says to add the sugar with the dry ingredients; however, in the pictures it shows the white sugar being added to the bananas? Which should I do? Thanks!!!
joythebaker
My mistake, add it with the dry ingredients
emilia
Are molasses necessary?
joythebaker
not necessary, but delicious!
April
I make this ALL.the.time. During the colder months more than once a week. Recently I subbed pumpkin for the banana and used your homemade pumpkin pie spice. Amazing!
Bess R
Joy, I love love love this recipe and make it every time I’ve got brown bananas- which is often. I have a problem though with the way the banana bread bakes. I nearly always have to bake it for an hour and a half or so and the middle part poofs up a ton and seems to never be done well. I always want to take it out so the rest of the bread doesn’t get too dry but the middle top is still raw. What are your thoughts?
Cecilia
I tried it. It tasted so good and was very easy to make. I don ‘t have a mixer so I use an egg beater. Thanks for the recipe.
sarah
Hi, I am a dutch girl who tried to make this banana bread. But in Holland we are not so familiar with Molasse. So I made one without, also really nice! Now I found a store where they do sell molasse. But now I have two choices: liquid or solid molasse. Which one should I buy? What is the difference in taste or use? Hope you can help me! I am very curious how it will taste with molasse.
Thanks anyway, for all your lovely recipes!
joythebaker
i think you want liquid molasses. happy baking!
Allison
I am making this right now after a long week…(and it’s only Wed). Adding a splash of bourbon, because, well…
joythebaker
totally the right thing to do!
Rebecca Eats
I’m procrastinating some work by making this banana bread. I’m loving the addition of just a wee bit of molasses! It’s subtle but makes such a huge difference in the end product. Thanks for the recipe!
jenna @ butter loves company
making a version of this right now. was looking for something with bananas and buttermilk and this was the winner!
Shirley
Hi Joy, what can I use if I can’t find molasses? Thanks.
joythebaker
you can skip it! no worries.
Shirley
Thanks Joy. Really appreciate it! Oh btw, I made the double choc chip cookies the other day. My boyfriend loooooooves them. So do I. He said they are the best cookies he’s ever had in his life. Thank you thank you so much for all the inspirations and the amazing recipes. You’ve made me feel life’s so good with baking!!
Betsy
Any suggestions for a substitute for the molasses? Or would you not recommend altering this ingredient?
joythebaker
Hello Betsy, I recommend substituting it for either honey or maple syrup. It’s such a small amount that you can get away with using either one of those instead!
Alex
Do you think if you decreased the amount of floor in the recipe you could throw in some old fashioned oats?! I love adding oatmeal to banana bread
joythebaker
Hi Alex! You most definitely can! I love the idea of adding oats to this, I like the way you think!
vernthedog1
I have made your chocolate chip banana bread from your recipe book at least 5 times now and i cannot believe how much it’s adored. Thanks so much for the great book!
Katie @ Counter Dog
I just moved too, from northern Virginia to San Diego. The very first thing I baked was also banana bread, and I didn’t know why I chose it at the time, but you’re right, it’s comforting, it’s familiar, it’s happiness. I’ve been snacking on the loaf for days, and need to make a new batch soon. It’s starting to feel like home.
Rachael Tamar
Made it. Easy & delicious. Keeper!
Julia
I just made this entire thing in my college dorm room (browning the butter in my little microwave), through it in a pan, and walked it over to the dorm nearest to me with an oven! I made this recipe all summer, the absolute best banana bread I’ve ever come across! Thanks Joy! :)
joythebaker
Whoa, you go girl!
Miriam
Any suggestions for adding bourbon? Think it’ll be okay to just add a Tbsp along with the other liquids, or should I dial back the buttermilk accordingly? Brown butter bourbon banana bread… it’s gonna be my birthday cake. (Alongside Bon Appetit’s brown sugar bourbon ice cream, because I’ve had a real Thing for bourbon sweets lately.)
Joy
I like the way you party! A tbsp along with the liquids will work just fine! Now let’s talk about this bourbon ice cream…
Handmade Redhead
My husband hates new recipes. I LOVE new recipes. He is of the mind, “If it aint broke, dont fix it.” And I am of the mind, “It can always get better.” Banana bread is one of his favorites and he has 2 recipes that he loves. One that he actually learned to make himself, so he doesnt have to wait for me. So he thought it was a bad idea to try a new one. This recipe won him over! He still has 2 favorite banana bread recipes, but this one has taken the place of the one of the old ones.
Amanda
love the simplicity of the banana bread, can’t wait to make it! hope it made your new place feel a little more like home!
Nanci
Hello
just recieved your cookbook! I can tell it will be one of my favorites!
love the white mixing bowl with the spout!! Where can I get myself one of these!!
Good Luck on the move and thanks for sharing with us!
Nanci from Missouri
Weezaleez
Joy, you’re a delight. This is super timely, not just because I moved a month ago and really want to put things involving bananas and brown butter into my face, but also because I desperately need a face wash recommendation, since my beloved face wash has been discontinued…
What face wash do you use, and would you recommend it?
Thanks!
Emily @ Life on Food
Home is all about the smells. Banana bread is a great step in the right direction.
Tracy
Welcome home! Nothing smells better than fresh baked banana bread!
Angela
I moved house recently. I had all my same old things around me but I just felt off. Things weren’t right. I felt homesick even though I loved my new little place. Then I got in the kitchen and baked and baked and cooked something yum for dinner and then everything was ok. The house smelt like good food and I felt much more at home. So I guess what I’m saying is, I hear ya.
The Macadame
This looks so amazing. Banana bread is my absolute favourite treat :)
Thanks for sharing!
The Macadame. xx
http://www.creamstop.com
Todd | HonestlyYUM
already loving those backlit shots by the window..?
Vicki B
P.S. Can I just say that your Vimeo vids are the cutest, cleverest things ever? I just now saw them.
Marios
Good luck with your new move Joy. And when you get a chance to go to the store, buy some coconut palm sugar. Use it instead of brown sugar next time you make your banana bread. You’ll be amazed at how good it tastes.
Vicki B
Oh yum! I found it is possible to roast bananas in their skins when ripe bananas are called for and there are none around.
Monica
That’s beautiful, Joy…both the bread and your sentiments.
Rebekah
This looks delicious! I’ve never used molasses in banana bread, but it looks like a great additional that I’ll have to try next time.
http://acricketsang.blogspot.com/
Carlinne @Cook with 2 Chicks
I hope I still have those over ripe bananas. This recipe looks delicious. I’m super excited to hear about your new adventures in New Orleans. Beautiful writing and pics, as always :)
Synne
Lovely! The familiar scents of baking always make me feel at home, and I love how these pictures look very …you, even though you’re in a new place.
I also love how you can follow your own advice on buttermilk substitutes, haha.
I hope you (and Tron) will settle in and feel at home and be truly happy in your new apartment!
Terri
Sending you warm, happy thoughts from CA! Here’s to all the new adventures in your new home and can’t wait to hear about them on the blog/podcast! xoxo
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
I am in love with the first picture, I cannot stop staring at it! Beautiful. Really lovely post, Joy. x
TaylorMay
banana bread. cinnamon and coffee. absolutely magic. your photography seems to have altered a bit with your move. still totally beautiful and inviting, inspiring,.. but different. but. Im just me and not you. so . you’d know better. :]
thick slices are the only way to go. Happy melding and finding.
Amy M.
Hi Joy! I tried to leave a comment Friday but my work computer decided to leave for the weekend before I did (unusual). Your blog was one of the first I ever followed (along with SmittenKitchen’s)! I actually live in New Orleans now (moved here about two and a half years ago) and ride my bike through the quarter to get to work every day (actually, the view out your window looks familiar, as creepy as that sounds.) Let me know if you need a buddy to enjoy the city with, or even just some tips on biking/ parks/ festivals/ po boys, etc! Also, I live right near the entrance to Jazz Fest so feel free to swing by if you need a beer/ pit stop. There’s always a party or crawfish boil happening on the street and sometimes I think it might be more fun than the fest itself! I hope you love it here as much as I do!
Melissa Karras
Oh Joy. You are SUCH a brave woman! Making a new city into your new home is an unbelievable feat. I didn’t think it was a big deal, until I moved to a new city. It’s been two years and I still haven’t made it “home” in my heart, so I’m still terribly sad. I know its a mental shift, so I’m working on that. Banana bread helps too ;) Enjoy your new home!
Kristiana
I love the lighting in your new kitchen, Joy!
foodlikecake
You’re so brave (moving practically across the country) and you take such beautiful pictures!
megnewhall
I just made a loaf of this with the help of my 1 1/2 year old son! :P We did not make as much of a mess as I anticipated…haha. Thanks for the recipe! Good luck in your new place—I moved away from family a year and a half ago, and after the first year, the homesickness mostly disappears. :)
sasa
Looks so yummy! I have to try this:)
New on http://www.shallwesasa.com
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health
im so happy that its starting to feel home Joy :)
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
So happy to hear you’re settling in joy! Wishing you all the best as you unpack and start living your whole new life! xx
Rocky Mountain Woman
for some odd reason i have a feeling that you will love your new home and it will love you…
carla
Something about banana bread that absolutely feels like home, doesn’t it? Glad to hear that you’re settling in nicely. Moving always takes awhile…
brown butter banana bread recipe looks delicious. Just the right amount of cinnamon does it for me!
Carla @ love cartista
Tori
I’m so excited for you and your move, JTB! It’s going to be such an adventure. In addition to banana bread, creamy coffee, gin, and your orange fur-baby, I suggest making your savory polenta with Marcela’s tomato sauce! Now there’s a house warming dinner :)
Taylor
The first thing I made when I was in my new house was a batch of chocolate chip cookies. They look, smell, and taste just like home. If you love food like us, then eventually you can make any kitchen feel like home to you.
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
Jenn
Hi Joy,
Just curious…which color is your fav le creuset color you own?
Jenn
Jennifer Lemke
I am so excited to try this recipe! Can I just substitute 3/4 cup brown sugar if I have it? I don’t have any molasses:).
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
Last time I made banana bread I caramelized the banana. Now I gotta try browned butter, and maybe combine the two!
Natalie @ Paper & Birch
Ummmm YUM! Love this idea. Definitely trying this recipe this weekend! Thanks Joy :)
Arthur in the Garden!
Wonderful!
Meredith
Amazingly delcious!
Rachel D.
If you ever need a banana bread + coffee buddy I’d be delighted to step it. I mean…Joy the Baker, banana bread, and coffee…you can’t beat that!
Lesley
If I don’t have molasses, should I just use 3/4 cup brown sugar instead of the granulated + molasses?
cindyhgpv
Settling into a new space is always such a mix of weird/refreshing…and when it’s a new city/state, it’s always a little intimidating too! But, you got this…especially with banana bread by your side!
Gabriella
I love the light in your new place! Also – I literally just finished baking brown butter banana bread and saw this post – great minds! ;)
blahnikbaker
It will take time for it to feel like home but it will because home is where you are!! Can’t wait to follow along on this new adventure. PS: Love the new kitchen space, light and table!!
Pam
Could you share with me where to purchase your beautiful white ceramic spouted bowl and wooden spoon? My sister just moved, it would be a perfect gift for her. Enjoy your blog so much!
Pam
joythebaker
i think the bowl was from ikea and the wooden spoon is from sur la table. happy housewarming to your sister!
sundiegoeats
Brown butter can improve everything from scallops and gnudi to brownies and most certainly banana bread :)
Barbara
I love banana bread, but since you’re in the south now, it’s kinda naked without some – or a lot – of pecans in it. Southern cooking uses a lot of pecans! NOLA is noted for pecan pralines and the nuts are abundant, although they are expensive right now. I love to make those, too. I love my grandmother’s recipe for banana nut bread, but I’ll try some browned butter next time I make it. I love to make-gift size pans out of card stock (using my Cameo digital cutting machine) and give small loaves to my neighbors with a matching hang tag.
Robyn Kramer
Hi, could I use regular nutmeg if I don’t have fresh and would it be less? thanks, love your blog:)
joythebaker
you can use pre-ground nutmeg if you must and yes just a touch less.
Chris
Banana bread… mmm… the nomz! Your new space looks awesome, the way food pix should look (if that makes sense). Congrats! ;-)
carole
There is something comforting about baking something familiar when you move. I moved over the summer to a totally new small town and didn’t have a working kitchen for 3 months… as soon as I could I baked chocolate chip cookies and made me feel comfortable right away.
Adrienne | Appetites Anonymous
Banana bread will totally help you settle in (great idea)! I LOVE all the photos of your new place. New Orleans is such a beautiful city! Thanks for letting us come along on your journey :)
Stephanie
Love this Joy. I just got back from New Orleans last week and have been bitten by that city’s infectious bug as well. So I’m taking a leaf from your book, packing up, and moseying on down there ASAP. Seeing the pictures from your new apartment is getting me obscenely excited about it. This bread may have to be one of the first things I bake in my new place too.
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
I am loving your new space and light, also love following on your journey. Even though it’s scary/exciting, banana bread is always the answer!
Kimberly
I love that you are in your new home, and banana bread is the perfect comforting dish to settle in. Your new place has a new light that shines gently in the photographs. I hope you enjoy this new adventure!
Bailey Wallace
Oh I love this. So happy that you’re settling in all nice and swell. <3
cynthia | two red bowls
Beautifully written, Joy — and the banana bread looks so, so good! Buttermilk and brown butter are the keys to my heart. Best of luck in your new digs and hope you’re settling in wonderfully! Thanks for your lovely post.
Elizabeth Johnston
Joy! I have been reading you for over a year now, but I never leave comments! I’m leaving you one now because I was overwhelmed by empathy reading your last two posts. I moved from Texas to China 6 months ago and understand homesickness, but I love your positive attitude! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us! I haven’t been reading your blog since the beginning, but now I feel like I get to be here for your new beginning! Thanks for all the great recipes!!
Susie Hawes
I love your table… It makes every picture look homey… Banana bread does make it all cozy… i can just smell it now…
Lene
In my next life, I want to be Joy The baker :-)!
I´m sooo jealous of your street and your appartment – such beautiful surroundings for sure must be conducive to happiness. Enjoy.
Looking forward to more pictures of your kitchen. Happy unpacking and settling in.
Love, Lene
joythebaker
thank you lene!
Taylee @ twist me fit
I’m glad you are starting to settle in. The banana bread looks good!
hcnickerson
Your new neighbors…they have no idea how much they just lucked out. Happy settling in!
i am pam
love the big move you have made. it is exciting and i’m looking forward to all of your posts. and the good natural light in your kitchen is awesome.
Anna
I love banana bread so much and totally agree – it is the perfect comfort food. My mum makes brilliant banana bread and the smell of it remind me of her and home. I like that your recipe doesn’t have any fancy additions, I don’t think banana bread needs them at all. I definitely need to try the brown butter though, I bet it adds a lovely flavour.
Now I think I have some bananas browning in the fruit bowl…Inspiring as always!
Natasha
I’m always keen to try a new Banana Bread recipe, especially one with browned butter which I must admit I’m very new to. Your photographs look wonderful – I love the table in front of the window. Welcome home!
Vickie
looks delicious – the perfect comfort food
Jayne @ Tenacious Tinkering
PS: For some reason the print function isn’t working for me. Is anyone else having that problem?
joythebaker
let me look into this for you! sorry about that!
joythebaker
should be fixed up now!
Jayne @ Tenacious Tinkering
Banana bread makes any place a home. I have every exact ingredient on here and that means I’ll be banana bread baking tonight. Sometimes we need to be reminded why the house is a home.
Gry
I love the light in your new kitchen. Very inspiring. Banana bread is always a good idea. I’ll make some asap.
Ashlee Spear
As a California girl myself, I’m feeling a bit Venice homesick for you. New Orleans is a big, bold move! I’m excited to see where it takes you. Hope your banana bread has worked its magic:)
Jessica (bakecetera)
banana bread is always the best house warmer! i love the addition of molasses into the recipe! i hope you get settled and that you’re happy in your new home :D.
thelittlecookbook
Joy you’re speaking in volumes to me here. I was searching high and low for a basic yet amazing banana bread recipe, and I am pondering an international move. Your journey is definitely inspiring me. Being new in a city is amazing, embrace the newness of everything around you, you’ll walk the same streets in 2 years and they’ll look so different. Normality looks so different to the shine of new, both are great, but you can’t get that same “first look” back – the streets will feel different, the light will fall a different way and routes will become less and less adventurous. Good luck and enjoy it! Meanwhile i’m just gonna eat an entire loaf of banana bread.
joythebaker
you’re so right! best of luck with your possible move! i’m rooting for you!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Gorgeous, the perfect bread to break in your new home!
sue/the view from great island
We’re on the same banana bread page today…It looks like your new space has some pretty decent light!
Amy
The natural light looks so good here!
Elyse
Gin and banana bread sound like a wonderful start to any adventure in my book!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Welcome home! There’s nothing like banana bread to make you feel all cozy & homey! And look at you DIYing for both buttermilk and brown sugar. Resourcefulness is always an awesome thing. I would love a slice of your bread. I hope you’re settling in to your new home and what a gorgeous first photo shoot in a new space. WOW!
joythebaker
come visit, Averie!
Glenda
Banana bread smell like home to me too, I will give this recipe a try, I like the brown butter idea.