Shelly's Recipe

JAVA STREUSEL BANANA LOAF BREAD

Category: Quick Breads

Java Streusel:
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp instant coffee granules
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup butterscotch chips

Muffin Batter:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup mild coffee or buttermilk
1 cup pureed very ripe bananas (about 2 large)
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup diced firm banana

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a loaf with baking spray and line it with parchment paper on the bottom, grease the paper too.

Make java streusel: Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until the mixture is grainy and coarse.

Make muffin batter: Cream butter and both sugar in a mixer bowl until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Pour into the batter with the mixer running in a slow speed. Next, pour in coffee/buttermilk and pureed bananas. Fold in chocolate chips and diced bananas last.

Scoop half of the batter into the prepared pan. Crumble half of the java streusel on half of the batter. Finally, scoop the last half of the batter and then crumble last half of the streusel on top.

Bake in the middle rack for about 60-65 minutes. The batter might puff up quite big and as if it will overflow, but it will not.

If the loaf browns too quickly in the middle of baking, lower the oven temperature to 325 (you could also tent it with aluminum foil) and bake until a cake skewer comes out with little crumbs sticking to it. Cool on the rack for 10 minutes and then remove from the pan. Let it cool completely before slicing.