Mallory's Viral Brown Butter Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup unsalted butter (1 stick; to be browned)
• 3 overripe bananas (mashed; the spottier the better)
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 egg (large, room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 0.2 tsp salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional; plus more for topping)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. 2

   Brown the butter: Place 1/2 cup of unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter, then continue to cook while whisking constantly. The butter will foam up and then subside. Watch for small brown specks to form at the bottom and a nutty aroma to develop. Once the butter is a deep golden brown, immediately remove it from the heat and pour it into a small bowl to cool slightly. Ensure you scrape all the brown bits into the bowl as they contain the most flavor.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl, peel the bananas and mash them thoroughly with a fork or potato masher until they reach a relatively smooth consistency with only small chunks remaining.

4. 4

   Pour the slightly cooled browned butter into the bowl with the mashed bananas and stir until well combined.

5. 5

   Add the packed brown sugar to the banana mixture. Whisk vigorously until the sugars are fully incorporated and the mixture looks smooth.

6. 6

   Add the egg and vanilla extract to the bowl. Whisk again until the egg is fully beaten into the batter.

7. 7

   Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the wet ingredients. Stir well to ensure the leavening agent is evenly distributed throughout the batter.

8. 8

   Add the all-purpose flour to the bowl. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the flour into the wet ingredients. Stop mixing as soon as no streaks of dry flour remain. Overmixing at this stage will result in a tough, dense bread.

9. 9

   If using chocolate chips, gently fold them into the batter. Save a small handful to sprinkle on top if desired.

10. 10

    Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle any remaining chocolate chips over the top.

11. 11

    Bake in the center of the oven for 50 to 60 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

12. 12

    Remove from the oven and let the bread cool in the pan for at least 10-15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

For the best flavor, use bananas that are heavily spotted or even completely black. If your butter cools too much and solidifies, gently re-warm it until liquid before adding to the bananas. This bread stays moist for several days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nutrition per serving

• banana bread
• brown butter
• baking
• dessert
• snack
• comfort food
• easy baking