Nutella Banana Bread

This is not a subtle bread. It’s unapologetically indulgent and shouldn’t even be called a bread since it’s really just a loaf-shaped cake. If it were a person, he/she/they would be showy and obnoxious.

That said, it has every right to show off. This nutella swirled banana bread is mesmerizingly beautiful and tastes as good as it looks. The browned butter adds complexity and nuttiness that compliments the Nutella very well, so I don’t recommend skipping that step.

Ingredients

Servings: 1 loaf or 12 muffins

adapted from Yossy Arefi’s recipe

Swirl

1/2 cup nutella, warmed in a bowl

Wet

1/4 cup (60ml) butter, browned

2 tbs (28ml) neutral oil

3 large very ripe bananas (320g), mashed

1/2 cup packed (105g) light brown sugar

1/3 cup (80g) yogurt or milk

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Dry

2 cups (256g) all purpose flour (I used half white whole wheat flour)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

Step-by-step Instructions

Step 1 - prepare equipment

Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
Line the bottom of a loaf pan with parchment paper cut to fit, or spray with nonstick spray.

Step 2 - prepare ingredients

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Whisk together thoroughly.
Brown the butter over medium-high heat in a light-colored saucepan. Once it foams up, keep stirring it with a spoon to watch the color. Don’t walk away. It’s done when it smells nutty, and has turned a toffee color. You don’t have to go as dark as I did.
Mash bananas in a large bowl and pour in browned butter. Careful, it may sizzle and pop. Add the oil, sugar, yogurt, vanilla, and eggs and stir together

Step 3 - combine and bake

4. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Do not over-mix, lumps and a few dry spots of flour are okay.
5. Microwave Nutella in a small bowl for 20 seconds until warm. This makes the nutella less viscous and easier to dollop and swirl.
6. Pour half the batter into prepared loaf pan. Dollop half the Nutella over evenly, and swirl into the batter with a toothpick or butter knife. Repeat with the remaining batter and Nutella.
7. Bake for 55-60 minutes until the top springs back to the touch, or a toothpick inserted in a nutella-free area comes out clean.

click images to enlarge