Bourbon Banana Bread Recipe
This delicious Bourbon Banana Bread combines the rich flavors of ripe bananas and smooth bourbon with a nutty crunch from walnuts. Perfectly moist and subtly spiced, this classic loaf is ideal for breakfast, snack time, or dessert, bringing a touch of warmth and sophistication to a traditional banana bread recipe.
- Author: lucas
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Total Time: 65-75 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (approximately 8-10 slices) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon fine grain salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 5 1/3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
- 2 very ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
Add-ins
- ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- Prepare oven and pan: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan thoroughly and set aside to ensure the bread doesn’t stick.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, fine grain salt, baking soda, and baking powder until evenly combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a sturdy fork or stand mixer to cream the unsalted butter and sugar until the texture lightens and becomes fluffy, creating a creamy base for your bread.
- Incorporate flour mixture: Gradually mix the dry ingredient blend into the creamed butter and sugar until the mixture resembles brown sugar in texture and is well blended.
- Add eggs: Gradually beat in the lightly beaten eggs to the mix, ensuring the batter becomes smooth and well combined, building the structure for the bread.
- Fold in bananas, walnuts, and bourbon: Gently fold in the mashed ripe bananas, coarsely chopped walnuts, and bourbon, incorporating all flavors evenly without overmixing, which keeps the bread tender.
- Transfer and bake: Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven at 350°F for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the bread is fully cooked.
- Cool and unmold: Remove from oven and let the banana bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes. After this short rest, carefully unmold it to continue cooling completely on the wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ensure bananas are very ripe for the best natural sweetness and moist texture.
- Room temperature ingredients help achieve a smooth batter and even baking.
- Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with a few crumbs.
- For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts or substitute with seeds if desired.
- Store banana bread wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Keywords: banana bread, bourbon banana bread, homemade banana bread, nutty banana bread, easy banana bread recipe, baking bread, bourbon recipes