So, last week I was perusing the internets, looking at blogs and scrolling through my Pinterest feed…like ya do. I came upon this Plum-Blackberry Cream Cheese Bread with Oat Streusel…oh, my…by Stephanie from Girl Versus Dough…and I remembered, in that moment, that I needed a quick bread in my life ASAP.
Inspirational, man.
So, I made this banana bread and filled it with lots of crazy goodness like blueberries, almond extract, white chocolate chunks, AND topped it off with a sugared almond topping. I mean, I really don’t have to tell you that this bread was capital-G, Good…you guys know stuff.
At it’s core, this banana bread is familiar, but the almond extract hints at the fruitiness of the bananas and blueberries, while balancing out the rich little pockets of white chocolate chunks. But, the real star is that sugared almond topping. It’s crunchy, sweet, salty, and just the kind of topping that will have you sneaking bits and leaving bald patches all over the top of the bread…not that I would do something so rude (lies…yes I would).
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup sugar
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- ¾ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- topping:
- ⅓ cup sliced almonds
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- pinch of kosher salt
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Butter or spray a loaf pan and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together the mashed banana, melted butter, milk, egg, extract, and sugar until combined well. Fold in the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in the blueberries and white chocolate. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. In another bowl, stir together the topping ingredients until the almonds are evenly coated. Sprinkle with the sugared almond topping mixture and bake in the center of the oven for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool on a rack before serving.
Adapted from this recipe and Take A Megabite.
Megan
YES! I love this. Mix-ins to the rescue! And I love that you finagled my mom’s recipe. She’d love this one! <3
cindy
your mom knows things!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
Shut the front door — this quick bread needs to be in my life, STAT.
Now I’m inspired by your inspiration. We are inspiration soul twins. 🙂
cindy
the circle of inspiration!
Billy
It’s the cirrrcle of liiiife.
Sophie
Oh my word. I’m drooling. Your photos or gahhhhgeous!
cindy
thanks, Sophie!!
Tieghan
Yes!! I guess it is a banana day for the both of us!! This bread is gorgeous and awesome and I want it. NOW!! Looks amazing, Cindy!
Kelly
What a fabulous bread recipe, this is a must-try!! 🙂
cindy
yes! let me know if you do!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
White Choc and Blueberries are amazing together. And I’ll never say no to banana bread. Looks heavenly!
cindy
totally! thanks, Averie!
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
Dude this looks so great. Also, I’ve totally jumped on the organic cane sugar bandwagon–I think it tastes better, especially in cocktails. That is all.
cindy
yes! I also think it’s slightly less sweet, which I love!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
That almond topping looks fabulous…and so does this whole freaking loaf! Love it!
cindy
thanks, Katrina!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
Power to the bloobs! What a sexy banana bread – white chocolate and almonds and blueberries are like the accessories for this hot little number. And the sugared almond topping…oi vey.
Gina @ So Lets Hang Out
And now you’ve reminded ME that I need a quick-bread in my life, like WHOA… Like now…Like in my face. This one is so pretty!
Melanie @ Just Some Salt and Pepper
Sadly got rid of some really ripe bananas today. They would have been perfect for this! It looks delicious!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons
Hey Cindy! Fellow Michigan blogger, stopping by to say hello 🙂 Your food photography is blowing my mind! Beautiful!!
Sarah Crowder (punctuated. with food)
I am particularly intrigued by the white chocolate chips – must try!
Billy
I am totally down for inspiration station via the Pinterest Train. I am also totally down for this loaf of goodness. SO MUCH OF IT HAPPENING IN THERE!
cindy
haaaail yeah!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
With delicious sugared topping, what’s not to love 😀
cindy
truth!
Erika
Now this bread has everything that I love about food in each slice… umm your freakin brilliant sista.
cindy
thanks, girl!
autumn
It has been way too long since I made quick bread… and now I can’t stop thinking about blueberries and white chocolate together. YES!
cindy
thanks, Autumn!
Tracy | Peanut Butter and Onion
This is like a flavor punch in the mouth… I don’t even know where to begin with this… awesome!
cindy
haha, yes!
Amy | Club Narwhal
Um, YES! This looks gorgeous–everything a quick bread should be. Loving the white chocolate chunks!
cindy
thanks, Amy!
Mercedes
What a perfect combination of flavors for a quick bread!
Anna
Looks super good. I’m actually trying to make it right now.. The ingredients list says baking soda and the actual instructions say baking powder… Which is it… Thanks!
cindy
Oh, sorry! It’s baking powder.
Christina @ Scaredy Cat Kitchen
Gorgeous pictures Cindy and that topping…woah. That is all.
Laura Dembowski
Cindy, this sounds seriously amazeballs! Love that you kicked up this banana bread with so many yummy things!
cindy
Thanks Laura!!
G
Tried it minus the chocolate. Yummy! Chocolate sent it into decadent dessert category for me instead of bread. PS: recipe calls for silvered almonds but photos show sliced. I used a mix.
cindy
awesome! thanks for catching that detail on the almonds 🙂
Laura@baking in pyjamas
I like to leave bread bald sometimes too. I’d end up doing it with this one too, it’s looks really scrummy. Saved.