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.
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
your mom knows things!
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. 🙂
the circle of inspiration!
It’s the cirrrcle of liiiife.
Oh my word. I’m drooling. Your photos or gahhhhgeous!
thanks, Sophie!!
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!
What a fabulous bread recipe, this is a must-try!! 🙂
yes! let me know if you do!
White Choc and Blueberries are amazing together. And I’ll never say no to banana bread. Looks heavenly!
totally! thanks, Averie!
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.
yes! I also think it’s slightly less sweet, which I love!
That almond topping looks fabulous…and so does this whole freaking loaf! Love it!
thanks, Katrina!
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.
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!
Sadly got rid of some really ripe bananas today. They would have been perfect for this! It looks delicious!
Hey Cindy! Fellow Michigan blogger, stopping by to say hello 🙂 Your food photography is blowing my mind! Beautiful!!
I am particularly intrigued by the white chocolate chips – must try!
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!
haaaail yeah!
With delicious sugared topping, what’s not to love 😀
truth!
Now this bread has everything that I love about food in each slice… umm your freakin brilliant sista.
thanks, girl!
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!
thanks, Autumn!
This is like a flavor punch in the mouth… I don’t even know where to begin with this… awesome!
haha, yes!
Um, YES! This looks gorgeous–everything a quick bread should be. Loving the white chocolate chunks!
thanks, Amy!
What a perfect combination of flavors for a quick bread!
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!
Oh, sorry! It’s baking powder.
Gorgeous pictures Cindy and that topping…woah. That is all.
Cindy, this sounds seriously amazeballs! Love that you kicked up this banana bread with so many yummy things!
Thanks Laura!!
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.
awesome! thanks for catching that detail on the almonds 🙂
I like to leave bread bald sometimes too. I’d end up doing it with this one too, it’s looks really scrummy. Saved.