If you look here, here, and here, you could easily conclude that I am a lover of all things banana bread. And you would be right. I do love this humble loaf and am always up for trying yet another banana bread recipe. I cannot resist the perfume-y moistness the bananas give the cake. It’s also a fantastic way to use bananas that have been sitting on the dining room table, fast moving past their prime. If you are part of a small household, and bananas come in big bunches, you will know what I mean. With a new member on board though, perhaps I can look forward to the day when we won’t always end up with a few rotten bananas. Which is not to say that I will ever stop letting some go “bad” for my bread 🙂
Now, you may not be up for reading yet another banana bread recipe over here but the fact of the matter is, and I might as well admit it now and get it out of the way, I will most likely continue trying all manners of banana bread recipes, and posting them in this space (unless of course it was totally heinous then you can be sure nobody would hear of it). I hope you don’t mind 🙂
This recipe is from Tessa Kiros’ book Apples for Jam, one of my very favorite cookbooks just because it is such a beautiful book written in such a lovely way. It’s a book I tucked into bed with me many times when I was pregnant. More than any pregnancy or baby book, Apples for Jam, with Tessa’s lyrical snippets from her childhood and that of her two (adorable!) daughters, would keep my pre-delivery jitters at bay much more than any account of “what to expect”. I still look over its pages and dream of the good things I want to make for (and with!) Little C someday.
This banana bread is one of them.
Banana Bread with Chocolate Chip Streusel
(Banana bread from Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros, streusel adapted from Ramblings From a Gypsy Soul)
For the banana bread:
- 125 grams butter
- 180 grams dark brown sugar
- 350 grams ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 250 grams all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons warm milk
For the chocolate chip streusel:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons butter, cold
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
– Make your streusel: Mix sugar and flour together. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or rub with your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips. Set aside in a cool place where the butter will not melt while you get on with your batter (I stick mine in the fridge).
– Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in the mashed bananas.
– Add the eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to the mixture and stir until everything is mixed well. Sift in the flour and baking powder and mix until just incorporated and smooth.
– Mix baking soda into the warm milk and mix this into the batter.
– Scrape the batter into a loaf tin that’s been buttered and bake for about 50 minutes in an 180C oven, or until a skewer poked into the middle comes out clean. Turn out onto a rack to cool.
Tessa’s recipe is for just the cake. I added the same streusel topping I used here, adding chocolate chips to the mix just because I had them around…although who really needs a reason to add chocolate to cake? I certainly don’t 🙂
Delicious! Wish I had some of that right now! Love the photo, too…
I am always looking for new banana recipes. Looks great!
That bread looks irresistible!
Cheers,
Rosa
I can never tire of seeing more banana bread recipes! I love Tessa's book too! I have a couple of books from here and this still is my favorite!
That bread looks great & I love the idea of streusel topping. Very inspiring, thank you!
You can't have too many banana bread recipes in my opinion and this one looks like a worthwhile addition to my collection.
Hi Tokyo Terrace! Thank you! It's easy to take pictures of yummy food 🙂
Hi Maria! Me too 🙂
Hi Rosa! I loved it! And I fear I ate more than my fair share 😉
Hi Junglefrog! Isn't Tessa so charming? 🙂 Love her books…
Hi Grapefruit! The streusel topping really make this special 🙂
Hi WizzytheStick! I share your opinion 🙂 And I love this with the chocolate chip streusel 🙂 You can even try your own favorite banana bread recipe with this streusel!
Would you call it… The most important cookbook of your life?! 😉 (obviously I want you to check out my giveaway…) Anyway, you have a knack for making already great recipes even better. I just had four desserts today but I still would like a big slice of this!
I would never tire of banana recipes… the streusel made it even more yummy 🙂
Love how your banana bread looks: nubbly and there's choc in the mix!
I recommend those scarlet-skinned "Gloria" bananas for baking, btw. They make banana bread fragrant and flavorful. I sometimes see thtem at the fruit stalls at Market Market.
you are so like my mom. She loves banana bread too!
Hi JOey it's been a while. I am glad you're back in the heat of the kitchen…
Howz it goin' with your lil angel? 🙂
Hi Manggy! Haha! For a giveaway perhaps I could 😉 Will check it out! Four desserts??? You lucky thing 🙂
Hi Anne! I really love the addition of the streusel 🙂
Hi Midge! Thanks for the tip…will have a look the next time I’m at Market Market 🙂
Hi Peachkins! She has good taste 🙂
Hi Joanie! I’m glad to be back as well! The little one is doing fine…it's amazing to watch her little changes as the days go by 🙂
There's no such thing as too much baking with bananas! Plus the match with chocolate… oh dear. I'm sure little C. will be very fond of that combination too! 🙂
Made your recipe the day you posted it and we are still enjoying it today 😉 (I had two pieces as my lunch!) Delicious! It's a bit dense but still love it and because it's not to light and airy I think I might try making additional streusel and then adding it into the cake so there is streusel inside (in swirls) and on top like my favorite coffee cake recipe. Thanks for posting! I do enjoy your blog!
There is always room for another banana bread recipe. And I always do have some over ripe bananas. 🙂
Those are the very best kind of recipes! Keep enjoying your darling baby – time really does fly.
We all talk about our cookbook addictions but your story about going to be pregnant has got to be one of the best yet. A cookbook read to keep pre-delivery jitters at bay … that's beautiful.
I'm sure this will be a wonderful banana bread to share with your little one sooner than you think!
Happy Days Joey!!
Hi Suzana! True, true! And the leftover overripe bananas go into the freezer for more baking later! 🙂 I do hope Little C is as fond of the combination as I am 🙂
Hi Alicia! Thanks for stopping by! So happy to hear you are enjoying the banana bread…and extra streusel inside sounds like a fantastic idea 🙂
Hi Divina! I agree 🙂 I love bananas 🙂
Hi PheMom! I will! Even at 1.5 months I really that time goes so fast…
Hi Tanna! I really love that book and reading about her cute daughters and the simple pleasures of giving them yummy stuff to eat never failed to make my heart feel light and calm 🙂
Good Evening,
We are Marketing students from the Ateneo and we are trying to get interviews with all the famous chefs, restaurant owners and food bloggers/critics in Manila for our project on gourmet mushrooms. We are creating a mock-up business plan for a new way to recycle urban wastes (used coffee grounds) by using that as substrates in producing Oyster Mushrooms. We would really appreciate your insights regarding the tastes of Filipinos now â•„ especially regarding foods with mushrooms. We would really appreciate it if you could grant us an interview (even over the phone or through email would be great if you are too busy).The first part of our marketing paper is due this coming Thursday, so we hope we can get in touch with you before that time.Thank you very much for taking the time to read our letter!
Sincerely,
Aimelyn Lim and Monica Ang
I love banana bread and the addition of the chocolate chip streusel here. Very cool!
CONGRATS on the arrival of Little C. Wonderful news.
Best wishes,
Paz
I love banana bread and I must say that yours looks great… i love the texture and the choc-ness of it!
Hi Aimee…you can email me the details but I must say I don’t know anything at all about growing mushrooms…
Hi Paz! Thank you! 🙂 I love this streusel with chocolate chips…elevates this into extra special 🙂
Hi Malou! Thank you! I love trying out different recipes and versions of banana bread 🙂
Banana bread does not get better than this!
Hi Redmenace! Thanks! I love this combination with the chocolate chips in the streusel 🙂
omg! my mouth is watering. I'll try your recipe tomorrow. wish me luck!!! 😀
Good luck Clarzy! Hope you like it! 🙂
Great bread. I'm impressed.
Thanks Bordeaux!
Oh man you're streusel topping looks so good. i think i need to try this the enxt time i have some leftover bananas!
Thanks Purple Foodie! If you give it a try let me know 🙂
Chocolate on Banana a dreamy combination!
Hi Ellen! It sure is 🙂
Oh my… I've been lloking for a desirable banana bread recipe for ages – my mom had a great one but after she passed away I realised she'd never written it down 🙁 I may have found it!!
Hi Jeanne! I love banana bread so much that I have more than one recipe on this blog…and more to come!
My sister and I have been making this for the nth time, we also start selling this and it was always a hit. Now if we want to try something new we always turn to your site. Thank you for sharing your awesome recipes! ; )
Thank you RL! Glad to be of help! 🙂