Super moist banana bread with nutty browned butter and tons of chocolate chips. This is the best banana bread recipe you will ever find! Breakfast, snack, dessert, this brown butter chocolate chip banana bread recipe is it!
I didn't think banana bread could get much better until adding brown butter... total game-changer! The brown butter adds a depth of flavor that makes the banana bread ultra decadent. That nutty flavor with melty chocolate chunks, ugh, match made in heaven!
This brown butter banana bread has the perfect texture! It is moist yet fluffy. We don't make any dry banana bread around here! Moist is the only way! Even if we all cringe at that word.
If you love this dessert recipe, you must try my apple crumble tartlets with pecans, almond oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and bakery styles salted caramel cookies.
ingredients 🧾
Butter: You will need ½ cup of good quality unsalted butter for this banana bread. My favorite butter is Kerrygold.
Bananas: You know those bananas that are so brown that you think they're bad? Well they're not. Those are the perfect bananas for this banana bread! You will need 3 overripe bananas, mashed. Bananas with just brown specks on them are fine, but will make the flavor of the banana bread more mild.
Sugar: ½ cup of granulated white sugar is needed for this recipe.
Brown sugar: You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, just ¼ cup packed. I prefer dark brown sugar since it gives the flavor of this banana bread more molasses.
Eggs: This recipe calls for 2 eggs at room temperature.
Vanilla: 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract adds the perfect touch of flavor.
Milk: You will need ½ cup of whole milk for this banana bread.
Sour cream: Sour cream in banana bread is the secret ingredient. This is the best way to make your banana bread extra moist. Only 2 tablespoons do the trick!
Flour: 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour is used in this recipe. If you measure in grams it is 224 grams.
Baking soda: You will need 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
Salt: Kosher salt helps intensify other flavors in baking. You will need just ½ teaspoon.
Chocolate Chips: This chocolate chip banana bread calls for ½ cup of chocolate chips. My favorite are semi-sweet chocolate chips, not too sweet and not too bitter!
Find the full ingredient measurements and instructions in the recipe card below!
variations & substitutions 📖
If you don't have 3 bananas, you can substitute applesauce. You can substitute 1 banana for ½ cup of applesauce. Don't substitute more than 1 banana.
No sour cream? No worries! Just use some plain greek yogurt. It can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio. Just make sure it is full fat and not fat free.
Use whatever chocolate is your favorite! I love semi-sweet chocolate! You can also use milk chocolate chips for more sweetness or dark chocolate chips for more bitterness. You can also used a chopped chocolate bar or even mini chocolate chips. Whatever chocolate speaks to you, use it!
If you love this banana bread recipe, you will be obsessed with my cheesecake banana bread! It has a huge swirl of cheesecake filling in the middle of fluffy banana bread.
tips & tricks 👩🏻🍳
The simply most important part of banana bread is the bananas! As they ripen, they become softer and sweeter. I suggest using bananas that are almost fully brown on the outside. Don't be scared, they aren't old!
For best results, don't over mix. If you mix too much, air pockets will develop in your batter which will make your bread tough. You will know the batter is fully mixed when there are no longer dry streaks.
step by step instructions 🔪
Prior to starting, preheat the oven and prep your pan. Preheat your oven to 325F. Line your 9x5 banana bread pan with parchment paper. Then grease it with cooking spray or a stick of butter. Be sure to have your oven be completely preheated by the time the batter is done because the the baking soda that cause the batter to rise are activated as soon as it becomes moist.
Step #1 - Brown the butter. Place the butter in a light colored medium saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter melts, it will begin to foam and sizzle. In about 5-8 minutes from when you started, the melted butter will become golden brown. Once the foam subsides, you will see the milk solids at the bottom be toasty brown. Now remove it from the heat. My favorite way to tell when brown butter is done is by the nutty aroma. You will smell that brown buttery goodness! Set aside to cool.
Step #2 - Mix together your wet ingredients. In a large bowl, mix together the mashed bananas, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and sour cream. Once combined gently fold in the cooled brown butter.
Step #3 - Add the dry ingredients. On top of the wet batter, sift in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Step #4 - Combine everything. Mix until there are just no more dry streaks in the batter. Be careful not to over mix or you will have a tough bread.
Step #5 - Add the chocolate chips. Gently fold in the chocolate chips. Be sure to just mix until the chocolate chips are folded into the batter.
Step #6 - Add the batter to the loaf pan. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan.
Step #7 - Top the banana bread batter. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the banana bread batter. If you are wanting the bread to look extra fancy, you can add slices of banana on top!
Step #8 - Bake and serve! Bake the banana bread in the preheated oven for 70-80 minutes. If you have the will power, let it cool for about 10 minutes after baking. Then spread a slice with butter and enjoy!
serving suggestions 🍽️
Serve this banana bread fresh out of the oven, spread with butter. I like to enjoy a hearty slice of this delicious banana bread with a cup of coffee during breakfast or old fashioned cocktail after dinner!
To complete your breakfast meal try, cheesecake banana bread, upside down orange cake, or sweet lemon rolls.
storage & reheating ⏲️
Let your banana bread cool completely (and I mean completely!) before storing. If you store a warmed loaf of bread it will make it soggy.
Store on the counter in a sealed container or wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will stay good on the counter for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze banana bread! Banana bread actually freezes amazingly. When I make banana bread I usually make two loaves with the intention of freezing the other. Tightly wrap the banana bread in plastic wrap and place in the freezer. When you're ready to eat it, leave the loaf on the counter overnight and it will thaw to room temperature.
If you like warm bread like I do, simply cut a slice of the brown butter banana bread and microwave it for 15-30 seconds.
faq's ❓
If you have bananas that are not yet ripe that you want to use for banana bread, use this hack! Place the bananas in a brown paper bag. If you have other ripe fruits like apples or pears, place them in the brown bag with the bananas. They produce a gas that will greatly speed up the ripening process of other fruits. This trick will make overripe bananas in 24-36 hours.
It adds a nutty caramel flavor to the baked good! It makes each treat more decadent and rich. A great ingredient to add when trying to make a showstopper dessert!
When the milk solids at the bottom of the pan are black instead of brown, that means you have burnt butter not brown butter. The perfect brown butter will be golden brown and have specks of toasty brown at the bottom of the pan. Always use a stainless steel or light colored saucepan so that you can see the color of your butter.
There are few desserts that are better cold, and in my opinion, all breads are better warm! Although banana bread is easier to cut and looks better when it is chilled... it tastes best when it is nice & warm with butter spread on top.
how to video 🎥
other breakfast recipes
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recipe 📋
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Super moist banana bread with nutty browned butter and tons of chocolate chips. This is the best banana bread recipe you will ever find! Breakfast, snack, dessert, this banana bread recipe is it!
Ingredients
- ½ cup of high quality unsalted butter
- 3 overripe bananas (mashed, about 1 cup)
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons full fat sour cream
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour (224g)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and grease it with butter or cooking spray.
- Brown the butter. Place the butter in a light colored medium saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter melts, it will begin to foam and sizzle. In about 5-8 minutes from when you started, the melted butter will become golden brown. Once the foam subsides, you will see the milk solids at the bottom be toasty brown. Now remove it from the heat.
- In a large bowl, mix together the mashed bananas, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, whole milk, and sour cream.
- Then carefully pour in the melted brown butter and mix.
- Add in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined, being careful not to over mix.
- Lastly, add in the chocolate chips and combine.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Top with extra chocolate chips. Bake for 70-80 minutes until a toothpick comes out dry when inserted in the center of the bread.
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy a slice smeared with softened butter.
Notes
Storage Instructions:
Let your banana bread cool completely (and I mean completely!) before storing. If you store a warmed loaf of bread it will make it soggy.
Store on the counter in a sealed container or wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. It will stay good on the counter for up to 4 days.
You can also freeze banana bread! Banana bread actually freezes amazingly. When I make banana bread I usually make two loaves with the intention of freezing the other. Tightly wrap the banana bread in plastic wrap and place in the freezer. When you're ready to eat it, leave the loaf on the counter overnight and it will thaw to room temperature.
Reheating Instructions:
If you like warm bread like I do, simply cut a slice of the brown butter banana bread and microwave it for 15-30 seconds.
Chef Notes:
The simply most important part of banana bread is the bananas! As they ripen, they become softer and sweeter. I suggest using bananas that are almost fullt brown on the outside
For the best results, don't over mix. If you mix too much, air pockets will develop in your batter which will make your bread tough. You will know the batter is fully mixed when there are no longer dry streaks.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 400Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 215mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 2gSugar: 24gProtein: 5g
All nutrition facts are estimations. Please see a physician for any health-related inquiries.
Emma Essence says
Thanks so much Christy! Yes, the two best sweet breakfast items combined into one!