Brown Sugar Bourbon Banana Bread

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Remix to a classic

I LOVE food memories. especially when they’re attached to people. One memory I cherish is the woman who introduced me to banana bread. She was my dance teacher turned employer, and I learned soo much from her. When someone is a part of your life for almost twenty years, lessons and memories are important. Even if your season together has ended. I remember it feeling like it was Christmas when she would walk into the dance studio with tightly wrapped loaves of super moist banana bread. She didn’t have local family, so she created her own. One of the ways she showed her love, was gathering the people she loved most for meals, or baking for us. She was another person in my life that taught me the bonding power of shared meals.

She was in my life for over twenty years and taught me her recipe, and that’s what I’ve been using until two weeks ago. I wanted to make this bread feel like mine, while still honoring the original. So I took the spices up a notch and added dark rich and warm bourbon. I added toasted walnuts to the loaf that goes to my mom. She loves nuts in EVERYTHING! Don’t be afraid to get creative with the mix-ins. HAVE FUN!

From my kitchen, to your soul,

Sherria Michelle

Ingredients Prep: 10min Cook: 45-50min Total: 60min

6 over-ripe medium/large bananas

3 C all purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 C granulated sugar

1 C packed dark brown sugar

4 tbs bourbon

1 tbs vanilla extract

2 large eggs (room temperature)

1 tbs cinnamon

1/2 tbs nutmeg

2/3 C melted butter

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 9" loaf pans with non-stick baking spray. Set aside.

  2. Peel bananas and place in large mixing bowl. mash bananas with fork or potato masher until no large lumps are visible. Add bourbon, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cover and let sit.

  3. In seperate bowl add flour, baking soda, and granulated sugar. Whisk until well combined.

  4. With wooden spoon or spatula gradually add flour mixture and melted to bananas. Mix gently until all ingredients are well combined.

  5. Split batter between both pans. Place in pre-heated oven on middle rack.Bake for 45-55 minutes depending on your oven. At 40 min, check the center of each loaf with toothpick. Toothpick should come out clean or with small crumbs when bread is done.

  6. Remove loaves from oven and place on rack to cool in pans for 20min. Remove bread from pans and let finish cooling on baking rack.

  7. Slice and enjoy!!