Sunday afternoon, I was going through “the pile” looking for something to grab my attention. Then I saw it. The object of my craving (that I didn’t even know I had!) — banana bread. And I just happened to have four bananas that were past their prime. Perfect! The recipe was scribbled down on a piece of scrap paper. I have no idea where I found this recipe, but I must have been in a hurry when writing it down because I could hardly read my own writing.
My almost-four-year-old sous chef was very eager to help me bake. Together, we mixed together all of the ingredients and mashed the bananas (this was Joey’s job!) exactly as the recipe called for. When making a new recipe, I like to make it exactly as it’s written the first time around — just to see how it turns out. After that, I start tinkering and tweaking.
This recipe makes two loaves of bread. I made one loaf exactly as the recipe directed. For the second loaf, I added chocolate chips, as per my husband’s request.
It’s a KEEPER, KEEPER, KEEPER! This is the BEST banana bread I have ever had! It is ultra moist and so very flavorful. The streusel topping is such a great addition to a classic recipe like this. So are the chocolate
chips! My husband loves this addition. It’s really an unbelievably delicious recipe. I can’t think of a better way to use up bananas!
As I sit down to write this post, I have a slice of this ultimate banana bread and a cup of tea. My son is in bed and all is quiet in the house. Does it get any better?
Ultimate Banana Bread
Compliments of It’s a Keeper
Original Recipe From: Southern Living Magazine
www.itisakeeper.com
Bread
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 medium)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
6 Tbs flour
Streusel Topping
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1 Tbsp melted butter
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 8×4 inch
loaf pans.
Using and electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until creamy. Slowly add sugar and vanilla, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time until incorporated.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. While mixer is on low-speed, slowly add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture until just combined. Stir in mashed bananas. If adding chocolate chips, combine chips and flour in a separate bowl then fold into batter.
Spoon batter evenly into greased loaf pans.
Stir together all ingredients for streusel topping. Sprinkle streusel mixture evenly over each.
Bake for one hour or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. To prevent over browning, you may need to cover loaves with foil for the last 15 minutes of baking. Cool pans on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool an additional 30 minutes before slicing.
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johne says
Banana Bread with Streusel topping…YUM!
thea says
I made this bread years ago and lost the recipe. I love it, my family loves it, my friends love it. It’s my favorite banana bread recipe. I swear, every six months I’m searching the internet to find this recipe again because I either give it away or misplace it or am just too lazy to go through my recipe stack. Thank you for sharing it with the world!
Christina says
You’re so very welcome! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Russell says
OMG. I love anything with good streusel on it, and the thought of banana bread brings me back to my childhood, my great-grandmother always made “too much” and gave it to several family members and took them to church potlucks. My best friend and her mom recently in past few years started calling me “Streuseler” (a play off my name russell i guess). at first i hated it, so they called me that just to annoy me, but then it just stuck so i always answer to it lol
Christina says
Trust me…you won’t be disappointed with this recipe! It’s FABULOUS! 🙂 Love the nick name too! 🙂
Bella Brotzman says
On Feb 9,2010 you had a blog giving the recipe for:
“Ultimate Banana Bread”. I was writing it down so I could make it (to hard to shlep my computer to the counter to read it)and realized in the directions that you never mentioned, at any point, adding in the vanilla. I was surprised in the comments that no one mentioned that. I’m sure everyone probably knew enough when to add it, but maybe as one reads thru the directions to make it, and being that it’s not there, omitted it without realizing it. Not a big deal, but just thought you might want to know. Haven’t made it yet, so I don’t have a comment on how it tasted yet. Bella
Christina says
Thanks for the heads up on the omission — I sincerely apologize. I went ahead and fixed the recipe. 🙂
Holly L says
Banana Bread with Streusel topping…YUM!
Jenny @ Embellishing Life says
I made this a couple days ago and it was absolutely delicious! 🙂
Jerri says
This looks really yummy! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites last week!