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For the ultimate banana bread you want a bread loaded with great banana flavor that’s moist and tender, but not overly moist or soggy.
When America’s Test Kitchen emailed me a link to their Ultimate Banana Bread recipe, I just happened to have 3 very ripe bananas on the counter. We eat a lot of banana bread and our favorite is a recipe from Cooking Light, Better Banana Bread. We’ve been making that banana bread recipe several times a month for years. However, I’m always happy to try a new recipe, especially one that claims to be the Ultimate Banana Bread.
Their theory behind the recipe is that you need to use lots of bananas to achieve a great banana flavor, but if you use too many bananas the texture is mushy. They solve this problem by softening the bananas in the microwave, and then separating the banana juice from the bananas and reducing the banana juice on the stove.
The trouble was the recipe called for 6 very ripe bananas and I only had 3 bananas, so I decided to divided the recipe in half and make two cute little banana bread loaves.
My daughter loves Craisins in her banana bread, so we added dried cranberries to the banana bread. I usually don’t like walnuts in my banana bread, and I didn’t like them in this banana bread either. I think in a bread that highlights the banana flavor, the walnuts were overpowering. If you’re going to go to all the trouble to reduce banana juice you should just let the bananas shine.
Their method doesn’t take a lot more time, but you sure do dirty a lot of dishes. In the end though, the flavor and texture of this banana bread is excellent. I may have to agree, this maybe the ultimate banana bread.
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Ultimate Banana Bread Mini Loaves
Ingredients
- ¾ cups + 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 3 large very ripe bananas
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup dried cranberries optional
- ¼ cup walnuts toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Spray two mini loaf pans (5 ¾ x 3 ¼ x 2 ¼) with nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in large bowl.
- Place 2 ½ bananas in microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife. Microwave on high power until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 2 minutes. Transfer bananas to fine-mesh strainer placed over a bowl and allow to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes (you should have ¼ to ⅓ cup liquid).
- Transfer liquid to small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla.
- Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in dried cranberries and walnuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
- Slice remaining half banana diagonally into ¼-inch-thick half moon slices. Shingle banana slices on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1 ½-inch-wide space down center to ensure even rise. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.
- Bake until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 10 minutes, then remove loaf from pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
More banana bread recipes you might like:
Chunky Monkey Banana Bread, Barbara Bakes
Banana Nutella Bread, Barbara Bakes
Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread, Barbara Bakes
Coconut Pecan Banana Bread, Add A Pinch
Biscoff Banana Bread with Biscoff Cookie Streusel, Two Peas and Their Pod
Karen
This looks yummy, you amaze me!
Barbara Schieving
Thanks sis!
teresa
i adore a good banana bread, this looks wonderful!
Bonnie
Sounds like you would recommend it. So I want to know if you will abandon your old recipe for it?
Barbara Schieving
Nope 🙂 Hubs is the one who usually makes banana bread and I think this recipe is too fussy for him to make. He usually just uses one bowl to mix the other one in.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
This DOES look like the ultimate bread! Yum!
Valérie (Franche-Comté)
Voilà qui devrait faire venir le soleil
Beau samedi
Valérie.
ps) il y a un moment je t’avais demender quelques informations sur les mesures, mais pas de nouvelles; As tu reçu ma demande d’inforations? merci.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
If you tell me it’s the ultimate, then I’m a believer on day one. I love how this looks and how the recipe sounds.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Moist, tender and loaded with flavours! I love these banana loaves!
Have a great weekend, Barbara!
Patricia @ ButterYum
Oh my – what lovely loaves! I really like the sliced banana decoration. Very cute.
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen
It sure looks beautiful! Gotta love those little banana slices peeking out…
Claire @ Claire K Creations
That’s certainly a big call Barbara! What a great idea to microwave them to let out the juices!
Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies
I don’t like any additions to my banana bread either…just let the banana bread shine on it’s own. I’ve been making one that I adapted from Martha Stewart for a few years…will have to give this one a try!
Emily
Okay, I must admit this may not be one I try–I can’t stand lots of dirty dishes and I’m super lazy. 😉
Jenn @ Once Upon a Tier
I love the color the cranberries give to the banana bread! This looks so yummy. Can’t wait to try it!
Cookin' Canuck
I adore banana bread, so am so excited to try this recipe. I love the banana slice decorations along the edge.
Rocky Mountain Woman
If you think it’s the “ultimate” I’m sure it is!
I’ll give it a try. I usually make Martha’s banana bread, but I’ve gotten a little bored with that version…
Foodiewife
For some unknown reason, I suddenly developed an aversion to banana bread. I need to change that, and this recipe looks very promising to me. I do love bananas! Love the additions to your bread. ATK rarely disappoints me. I love their recipes.
carrian
oh my goodness, they are so stinking smart!! Do you do the whole try out recipes for them thing or was this separate? Just wondering because I get their emails about recipe testing.
Barbara Schieving
I tested recipes for ATK in the past, when I first started blogging, but haven’t for several years now. I just get their newsletter.
Amanda
Oh my, this looks perfect. And I love the little banana slices on the side 🙂
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Ive read about their banana ‘juice’ theory and I’ve always wanted to try it out…but like you, rarely do I have 6 super ripe bananas laying around. Two mini loves is fine anyway. And good to know you think that CI is on the money. They rarely disappoint. Pinning!
Rosa
Those breads look beautiful and so delicious! I love th eaddition of cranberries.
Cheers,
Rosa