Honey Butter Banana Bread

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We’ve been gatekeeping this banana bread for months!! And honestly, fall felt like the right time to finally let you in on it! 

The next time your bananas on the counter are getting suspiciously ripe, consider baking ups this honey butter banana bread. It tastes like it came straight from your favorite cafe – it’s thick with a soft, tender crumb. The warmly spiced batter isn’t too sweet because we didn’t want this to feel like a dessert and more of something you can have for breakfast and snack on throughout the day. 

The secret to the bakery-level texture starts with super ripe bananas for natural sweetness and moisture. Plus sour cream to add some fat and acid for an incredibly tender crumb. The honey butter glaze on top bakes to a crisp golden crust. In our opinion that’s the best bite!

If you want the full bakery experience at home, slice the bread into thick slices. Cutting through the crips caramelized crust on top into the soft bread below is so satisfying. But the first bite is even more of a treat. You’ll want this bakery-style banana bread sitting on the counter all fall. It’s perfect for the cool slow mornings, afternoon snacking or sharing with friends. 

Why You’ll Love This Honey Butter Banana Bread

• It has a soft, tender crumb. The last thing you want is a dry banana bread. Three super ripe bananas (mashed well!) and sour cream give this bread the moisture it needs while it bakes so that you don’t end up with a dry, crumbly loaf.
• Crisp honey butter crust. Our favorite thing about this banana bread is the honey butter topping. It adds a super crisp topping and slightly sweet flavor to each slice.
• Bakery-level but you made it! I know we’ve said this a lot, but this truly tastes baker-level. It’s a simple but a little extra. And the end result is so rewarding because you can say “I made this!”.

How to make This Honey Butter Banana Bread

Step 1. Mash the bananas and whisk together wet ingredients.

In a medium bowl, use a fork to mash three ripe bananas until you have. A smooth consistency. Make sure most of the banana clumps are mashed down. If your bananas are not super ripe, it may be harder to mash, which is one reason why very ripe bananas are recommended. Aside from the smooth texture, ripe bananas also provide a natural sweetness to the batter. 

Once the bananas are smooth, whisk in eggs, brown sugar, melted butter and sour cream until smooth. 

Step 2. Mix together dry ingredients and fold in the mashed banana mixture.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon until evenly incorporated. 

Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and gently stir until the batter is evenly mixed. Make sure there aren’t any dry clumps or streaks of flour in the batter. 

Step 3. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and top with honey butter. 

Grease a loaf pan with butter or nonstick spray, getting all the corners and sides coated. Pour the banana bread batter into a greased loaf pan.

In a small bowl, mix together honey, softened butter and cinnamon. Use a spatula or butterknife to gently spread the butter over the top of the banana bread batter. The batter is thick, so it should spread pretty smoothly. 

Step 4. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes until cooked through. Let it cool, slice and enjoy.

Pop the banana bread loaf in a preheated oven on 350°F and bake for 45-50 minutes. Poke a toothpick into the center of the loaf to see if the cake is cooked through. If there are a couple crumbs that come off the toothpick, its done. If there is wet batter on the toothpick, add the loaf back in for 5 more minutes until baked through. 

Let the banana bread loaf cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before slicing. Best if enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea.

Tips for Making Honey Butter Banana Bread

• Use very ripe bananas! Spotty, brown banana’s make the banana bread better. If they’re overripe, they’re softer, sweeter and more flavorful. They will also be easier to mash into a smooth banana mush, which will blend into the batter easily. 
• Don’t overmix the batter. Mix the dry and wet ingredients just until the flour disappears. Overmixing the batter will overwork the gluten and make it a tougher loaf. 
• Don’t skip the cinnamon honey butter!! It’s the best part. As it bakes on the top of the loaf, it creates a crisp, buttery crumb on the top of the loaf. It’s slightly sweet, spiced and the perfect addition to make this loaf irresistible. 

Best way to know the banana bread is done

Test doneness with a toothpick or fork. Stick the toothpick in the center of the cake. If the toothpick removes clean, the cake is done. If there is batter on the toothpick, let it cook for a little longer until you can remove it cleanly. 

How to store leftover honey butter banana bread

Let the loaf cool completely. Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature. 

If you want to store it for longer, store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze individual slices for up to 2 months.Reheat individual slices in the microwave until warm.

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