About a year and a half ago, I decided to use some bananas well past their prime to make a loaf of banana bread (instead of just tossing them and cursing my wastefulness as usual). I used my mom’s recipe, which I know – from much eating experience – to work quite well. But somehow, my bread turned out terribly. It was dry and gummy – gross.
As I tend to do when facing any problem, I wrote a blog post about my banana bread issues. And you all had some great suggestions. I dutifully tried some of them the next time I attempted banana bread. I’m sorry to tell you: It didn’t help.
So when I saw a recipe for Ultimate Banana Bread when perusing a food carnival, I decided I’d give it a try. Am I ever glad I did! It was SO good! I overcooked one of the loaves a tad bit, so the end pieces were a little dry. But that is most definitely my fault – and something I can fix next time.
Ultimate Banana Bread
3/4 cup butter, softened
1-8 oz package cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 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
Streusel Topping Ingredients:
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tbsp flour
1 tbsp melted butter
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together butter and cream cheese (with an electric mixer).Add sugar, eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking power, baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to cream cheese mixture and mix. The dough will be really stiff, so don’t be alarmed by that! Stir in mashed bananas. Spoon batter into two greased loaf pans. Mix streusel ingredients together and sprinkle streusel over each loaf. Bake for one hour or until toothpick (a really long toothpick) inserted into the center comes out clean.
Finally, I’ve mastered the art of banana bread. It’s a baking miracle! (Too dramatic? Then you underestimated the sadness of my previous banana bread experiences.)
Have you mastered any recipes lately? Do you like banana bread? And what do you think: If you eat streusel-topped bread with a fork, is it really a coffee cake?
This post will be linked to Mouthwatering Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, 33 Shades of Green, Sweet Tooth Friday, Foodie Friday, Friday Firsts and Food on Fridays. It will also be linked to Ingredient Spotlight at Eat at Home.
This post may be linked to these amazing carnivals and link parties.
I bet the cream cheese makes all the difference. Even though I’m a baker, I tend to shy away from banana bread for the reasons you mentioned. It’s a hard bread to master!
I can’t wait to try this one….I have ripe bananas just waiting!
P.S. Sometimes I will make muffins out of a b. bread recipe I have….they bake up nicely and aren’t gooey or gummy
The warm weather has returned to So Cal, which means our bananas are begging to be banana bread much earlier than normal. :) I have been on a banana muffin kick these last couple of weeks. It’s kind of ridiculous. I never thought of adding cream cheese. I bet that’s delicious. :)
i say if you put streusel on regular cake then you can justify eating it for breakfast…!
Stopping by from SITS. This looks delicious! We love making banana bread at our house.
I’m guessing that having cream cheese in there makes it a no-fail fabulous recipe! And streusel topping? Mmmm.
I’d still call it banana bread. My fave is to load up a slice with real butter, and then heat it in the microwave for 15 seconds, letting the butter melt in.
I love, LOVE banana bread!
Thanks for sharing your recipe on Sweet Tooth Friday.
I love banana bread and adding streusel sounds amazing! Glad you were able to find a recipe that works for you!
Oh yes, cream cheese must be the key. I have a recipe for banana bread with cream cheese and it is so good. Love the streusel topping on yours. (And I need to learn to spell struesal, struesel, stroosul, – darn the dreaded red line of misspelling every time!)
I never would’ve thought to add cream cheese. Lucky for me, other people are out there writing recipes!
Hi! I have a linky party going on at my blog called A Themed Baker’s Sunday where this week’s theme is Breads! I hope you’ll stop by and link up your bread recipe’s!
http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Themed%20Bakers%20Sunday
Alyssa