Description
This decadent banana bread recipe features moist banana bread loaded with chocolate chips and an indulgent candied bacon topping. The bread is enriched with sour cream, peanut butter, and a sweet peanut butter glaze, creating a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors that’s ideal for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Candied Bacon
- 9 to 10 bacon slices
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
Banana Bread
- 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate, plus more for garnish
- 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 large ripe bananas)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup full-fat sour cream, room temperature
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 large eggs, room temperature and lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Candied Bacon: Cook the bacon slices in a fry pan over low heat, allowing the fat to render out. After the bacon is cooked, drain the bacon grease from the pan, then return all bacon slices to the pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the bacon and toss to coat evenly. Continue cooking on low heat until the sugar dissolves and caramelizes, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the candied bacon with its caramel sauce onto a plate and let cool completely. Once cooled, cut into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with baking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper; set aside.
- Coat Chocolate Chips: Toss the chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of the all-purpose flour to coat and set aside to prevent sinking in the batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until combined; set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vegetable oil, sour cream, peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until no flour streaks remain. Then fold in the floured chocolate chips carefully.
- Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the Bread: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Glaze and Assemble: In a bowl, whisk together peanut butter, honey, and powdered sugar until smooth. Pour the glaze evenly over the cooled banana bread, then sprinkle with candied bacon pieces and extra chocolate chips for garnish.
- Serve: Slice the bread and serve immediately. Enjoy this sweet and savory treat for breakfast, dessert, or snack.
Notes
- Make sure the eggs and sour cream are at room temperature to ensure smooth batter and even baking.
- Coating the chocolate chips in flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the bread.
- Use ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- For a crispier candied bacon, spread the bacon slices out individually when caramelizing the sugar, if possible.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with melted coconut oil or butter if preferred.
- The glaze can be omitted or substituted with a simple dusting of powdered sugar for a lighter option.
- Make sure the banana bread is completely cool before glazing to avoid melting the glaze.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/10th loaf)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
