{recipe} Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

I am one of those people who always buys 5 bananas and then only eats one, and watches the remaining 4 turn browner and smellier by the day. I mean, hey, you have to admit it can be pretty magical to see an entire colony of fruit flies spontaneously take over your counter top! No?

Right. This is why I end up making a lot of things that rely on mushy, brown bananas as a major ingredient. And while I’ve had some successes in the past, I think this is the best use of skanky old bananas so far. Look at that crackly, buttery, cinnamon sugar top! How have we all been eating banana bread without these tasty layers for all these years?

In short, adding extra layers of cinnamon, sugar, and melted butter improves banana bread immensely. Obviously.

RECIPE: Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
makes 1 loaf. You can substitute whole wheat pastry flour for the flour if you want.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/3 cup + 1/2 cup sugar, divided
• 1 Tblsp cinnamon
• zest of 1 orange
• 3 overripe bananas
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup + 2 Tblsp butter, divided
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

METHOD:

• In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup sugar, cinnamon, and orange zest. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray or grease and flour it. Set aside.
• Put the bananas in a larger bowl and smash with a fork or potato masher. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract and mix well. Melt 1/3 cup butter and add to mixture, combining well.
• Add flours, baking soda, and salt. Mix in gently to combine, without overmixing.
• Pour half of batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle about 2/3 of the topping over batter evenly. Top with remaining batter. Drop loaf pan from a few inches onto the counter to settle and smooth the batter.
• Top with remaining topping. Melt remaining 2 Tblsp butter and drizzle over the top.
• Bake at 350 for about 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick or wooden skewer comes out clean.
• Let cool then remove from pan to slice and serve.