Slow Sundays & Fall Sweets: Our Brown Butter Walnut Banana Bread

Back to our slow Sundays with hot tea and lounging in our matching pajamas… I had every intention of doing nothing today, but it's hard to be lazy when I’ve been watching our bananas brown on the counter for about a week (something I’m always guilty of). Instead of tossing them, I decided to attempt banana bread for the second time. Needless to say, the first time was an epic fail.

This time around, I looked up a few recipes and tweaked them to my liking. I was craving a warm fall twist and nothing says autumn to me like brown butter and walnuts. The result? A moist, spice-infused loaf topped with a warm brown butter walnut glaze that completely stole the show.

It turned out so good that it’s officially a new Holbert family staple in our house.

Banana Bread with Brown Butter Walnut Glaze

Prep time: 15 minutes | Bake time: 45 minutes | Yield: 1 Pyrex loaf (9x5 inches)

Ingredients

Banana Bread

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed

• 1 large egg (room temperature)

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, browned & melted

• 1 ½ cups self-rising flour

• ½ tbsp ground cinnamon (optional)

• 1 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)

• ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

• 
  

Brown Butter Walnut Topping

• ¼ cup butter

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 2 tbsp water

• ¼ cup chopped walnuts

  
  

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare & Bake the Bread

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter a glass Pyrex loaf pan.

2. Mix Wet Base & Spices: In a large bowl, mash the 3 ripe bananas. Add the brown sugar, vanilla extract, browned melted butter, room-temperature egg, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix well until smooth.

3. Combine & Fold: Fold in the self-rising flour until completely mixed. Then, gently fold in the ½ cup of chopped walnuts.

4. Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared Pyrex loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry.

5. Cool: Remove from the oven and let the loaf cool while you prepare the topping.

   
   

Step 2: Make the Brown Butter Walnut Topping

1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the ¼ cup butter and allow it to slow simmer until fragrant and lightly golden brown.

2. Stir in the brown sugar.

3. Add the water slowly, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring continuously until it reaches your desired glaze consistency.

4. Stir in the ¼ cup of chopped walnuts and remove from heat.

   
   

Step 3: Finish & Serve

1. Drizzle the warm brown butter walnut glaze evenly over the top of the cooled loaf.

2. Let the glaze cool slightly to set, slice, and serve!