Super Moist Vanilla & Black Sesame Swirl Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 1.75 cup all-purpose flour (plus 1 tbsp)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp fine salt
• 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
• 0.5 cup white sugar
• 0.5 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
• 2 large eggs
• 4 tbsp buttermilk or greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste or extract
• 4 bananas (very very very ripe, mashed (approx 475g peeled))
• 0.5 banana (for the top (optional))
• 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp black sesame paste
• black sesame seeds (optional, to sprinkle on top)

Steps

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.

2. 2

   In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, fine salt, and ground cinnamon until well combined. Set aside.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, whisk the white sugar, brown sugar, and eggs together until the mixture is smooth.

4. 4

   Stir in the buttermilk (or Greek yogurt), vanilla bean paste, mashed bananas, and extra virgin olive oil until fully incorporated.

5. 5

   Gently fold the dry flour mixture into the wet banana mixture using a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

6. 6

   Divide the batter into two separate bowls. Add 3 tablespoons of black sesame paste to one of the bowls and mix until the color is uniform.

7. 7

   Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, alternating between the regular vanilla batter and the black sesame batter to create a marbled effect.

8. 8

   If using, place the extra 1/2 banana on top and sprinkle with black sesame seeds.

9. 9

   Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

10. 10

    Let the bread rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

The author highly recommends weighing ingredients in grams for the most consistent results. The bananas should be very ripe for the best sweetness and texture.

Nutrition per serving

• banana bread
• baking
• dessert
• snack
• black sesame
• marbled
• vegetarian