Grab a slice of Espresso Banana Bread in the morning, and your day will already be off to a great start! It's got that naturally sweet banana taste, plus the espresso flavor is in every single bite. This loaf stays incredibly moist and is really easy to put together.
This loaf of banana bread is really so decadent. It's made with brown butter and espresso powder for a deep flavor profile. If you have any bananas that are getting too brown? Go ahead and make a pan of this snacking loaf!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $0.38
- Total Cost (about 10 slices): $3.78
- Those Other Guys: $4.99 per slice
Ingredients
- Overripe Bananas - The riper the banana, the more sweetness we get from them. This is a great recipe to use up those spotty, browned bananas on your counter that are about to be thrown out.
- Browned Butter - Brown butter gives sweets a much deeper flavor with an almost nutty taste. It's super easy to make too! Essentially, you just cook the butter until it browns (but not burns) and let cool. I give more detailed instructions below, and you can also check out my how to brown butter post!
- Espresso Powder - You can find instant espresso in the coffee aisle of your grocery store. See below for a substitution if you only have brewed, liquid espresso instead.
- Greek Yogurt - We lose some water from the butter during the browning process. Greek yogurt gives a boost of moisture back to our banana bread. You can also use sour cream.
- Granulated Sugar and Molasses - We *technically* make our own brown sugar in the recipe; it calls for white sugar + molasses. If you only have brown sugar, feel free to substitute.
Variations and Substitutions
Espresso: Only have brewed espresso? Add 2 ounces of the liquid in to your mashed banana bowl.
Chocolate Chip Espresso Banana Bread: Stir in mini chocolate chips for a sweet addition to your coffee banana bread!
Banana Nut Muffins: This recipe works well as muffins too. Add the batter to a muffin tin and bake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
Salted Caramel Espresso Banana Bread: This one is so decadent. Swirl some salted caramel throughout the batter, and drizzle a little on top after baking.
How to Make a Loaf of Banana Bread with Espresso
Step 1: Make the browned butter.
While it's still hot, stir in the espresso powder. This will "bloom" the espresso, which extracts much more of the flavor.
Next, let that cool slightly before continuing.
Step 2: Add the cooled brown butter to a mixing bowl with sugar, vanilla, and molasses. Mix well.
Step 3: Stir in the mashed bananas, eggs, and plain Greek yogurt.
Pour in your dry ingredients, then gently fold these into the batter. Make sure you do not overmix.
Step 4: Place the batter in a greased loaf pan and bake on the lower rack for 50 minutes.
Use an aluminum foil tent halfway through baking to prevent the top from burning.
Let cool before slicing, and enjoy!
Recipe Pro Tips
- Slightly cool the espresso browned butter. Bloom the espresso powder in the hot butter, then cool. You don't have to solidify the butter, but cool it down a bit before mixing with your sugars.
- Mash your banana first - and thoroughly. Getting a really even mash is great for texture. I'm one of those people who don't like the strings in bananas - by mashing well before adding to the batter, you can have a nice consistent mash. It also helps brings out more of the fruit's natural sugars!
- Don't skip the yogurt (or sour cream). This helps keep our banana bread moist since browning butter evaporates a lot of moisture.
- Tent the pan! Adding an aluminum foil tent to the pan towards the end of baking helps the bread fully cook in the middle without burning the outsides.
Recipe FAQs
It goes well in tons of sweet recipes like my browned butter chocolate chip cookies, brown butter Rice Krispie treats, or browned butter pecan blondies!
You can also use it in savory dishes like a browned butter risotto, brown butter sage cornbread, or rosemary brown butter ravioli.
Banana bread has a super thick batter so it can sometimes take longer to bake in comparison to other breads/cakes.
To cook it evenly and completely - bake for about 30 minutes until the bread fully rises. Then, tent the pan with aluminum foil while you bake it the rest of the way.
This will keep the top from burning before the center can finish cooking.
You can stick a toothpick or knife in the center; if it comes out clean or has a couple moist crumbs on it, your bread is done!
Yes of course! Simply slice the bread, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in a freezer-safe container.
When you're ready to eat, let the bread slices come to room temperature on the counter.
Store in an airtight container on the counter for 4-5 days. This helps avoid the bread from drying out in the refrigerator.
Other Easy, Sweet Bread Recipes!
If you tried this Espresso Banana Bread Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Espresso Banana Bread
Equipment
- Saucepot
- Knife
- Small Bowl
- Fork or potato masher
- Mixing Bowl
- Wooden Spoon
- Loaf Pan
- Aluminum Foil
- Wire Rack for cooling
Ingredients
Espresso Browned Butter (makes ½ cup)
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons salted butter cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder
Banana Bread
- 1.25 pounds overripe bananas 565 grams mashed
- ½ cup browned butter (from above)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams)
- 1 teaspoon molasses
- 2 count eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (280 grams)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Espresso Browned Butter
- Start by slicing the butter into even pats, about 1 tablespoon cubes.½ cup + 2 tablespoons salted butter
- Add to a saucepan with a light colored bottom and cook over medium heat, consistently stirring, for about 10-15 minutes.
- The butter will bubble and foam at the top, and will turn a golden brown color with a nutty aroma. Small brown specks of milk solids will form at the bottom; continue to stir so they don't stick to the pan.
- Once that's done, immediately transfer the browned butter (including the brown bits) to a heat-safe bowl.
- Add the espresso powder to the hot butter and stir well. Let cool. This helps bloom the espresso for a richer flavor!1 tablespoon espresso powder
Banana Bread
- While your butter is cooling, peel the overripe bananas and mash them in a small bowl with a fork or potato masher. Set aside.1.25 pounds overripe bananas
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cooled browned butter, sugar, and molasses until well combined.½ cup browned butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon molasses
- Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, greek yogurt, and mashed bananas. Stir until thoroughly mixed.2 count eggs, ½ cup plain greek yogurt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nuts (if using those). Gently fold in the dry ingredients, being sure not to overmix.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt
- Prepare a loaf pan with non-stick spray and pour in the banana bread batter.
- On the lower oven rack, bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove the pan and carefully tent the loaf pan with aluminum foil; this helps prevent the top from getting too brown.
- Cook for another 15-20 minutes, until a knife in the center comes out clean.
- Remove the pan from the oven.Let the bread cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then set on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
- Serve with extra warm butter. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think!