Here’s a simple, steady recipe for Brown Butter Banana Bread. The brown butter adds a gentle nuttiness, nothing flashy, just a deeper, cozy flavor, while ripe bananas keep the loaf tender and moist. If you’ve got a couple of spotty bananas and a quiet half hour, you’re set. The steps are clear, the ingredients are familiar, and the result is a loaf you can slice for breakfast, a mid-afternoon snack, or to tuck into lunchboxes.

Ingredients for this Brown Butter Banana Bread

1/2 cup (113 g) unsalted butter
3 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup (150 g) packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup (80 g) plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 3/4 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional: 1/2 cup (60 g) chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
Optional: 1/2 cup (85 g) chocolate chips
Optional topping: 1–2 tablespoons coarse or turbinado sugar

Instructions

Brown the butter. Add the butter to a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn golden. Stir and watch the milk solids on the bottom when they’re toasty brown and it smells nutty (3–5 minutes), pull it off the heat. Pour into a bowl to cool 10 minutes. Little brown specks = flavor.
Prep the pan. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch (23×13 cm) loaf pan and line it with a parchment sling for easy lifting.
Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Mix the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and the slightly cooled brown butter until glossy. Add eggs and whisk until smooth. Stir in mashed bananas, vanilla, and yogurt/sour cream.
Combine. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and fold gently with a spatula just until no dry spots remain. If using nuts or chocolate, fold them in now. Don’t overmix—think “stir and stop.”
Bake. Scrape the batter into the pan. Sprinkle the top with coarse sugar if you like that crunchy lid. Bake 55–65 minutes, until a skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs (no wet batter) or the center reaches about 200°F (93°C). If it’s browning too fast, tent loosely with foil for the last 10–15 minutes.
Cool. Let the loaf rest in the pan 10–15 minutes, then lift it out and cool on a rack. Warm slices are wonderful, but the flavor deepens after it fully cools. Up to you—no judgment.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep: 15–20 minutes (including browning the butter)
Bake: 55–65 minutes
Cool: 30 minutes (hands-off, but worth it)
Total: About 1 hour 45 minutes
Yield: 1 loaf (9×5-inch), about 10–12 slices

Nutritional information

Approximate per slice (1 of 12):

Calories: ~300
Total fat: 12 g
Saturated fat: 6 g
Carbohydrates: 46 g
Fiber: 2 g
Total sugars: 24–26 g
Protein: 5 g
Sodium: ~260 mg

Figures are estimates, your exact numbers may vary based on mix-ins and brands.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this dairy-free or gluten-free?

For dairy-free, use a plant-based butter that browns (some do; if not, just melt it) and dairy-free yogurt. For gluten-free, swap in a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose blend with xanthan gum. The texture will be slightly different, but still tender. Keep an eye on bake time, GF can finish a few minutes earlier.

Why brown the butter? Can I use regular melted butter?

Browning butter gently toasts the milk solids, which adds a subtle, nutty depth like the banana bread version of turning up the bass. If you’re short on time, regular melted butter works; the loaf will still be moist and lovely. But that toasty aroma when the butter browns… it’s worth the extra 3–5 minutes.

How do I store and freeze banana bread?

Store at room temp, wrapped, for up to 3 days. For longer keeping, refrigerate up to 1 week (wrap well to prevent drying). To freeze, wrap slices or the whole loaf tightly in plastic, then foil. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or warm slices in a low oven or toaster oven until just cozy.