PB&J Banana Bread
I love banana bread, which is a good thing considering how many old bananas I have tucked into corners of my freezer. I came up with this version while thinking about a nut butter oatmeal bowl I’d had, and how well that combination would work with bananas. You can use any kind of jam for the filling layer, but I prefer berry jams, as they give this bread the old school PB&J vibe from my childhood.
Makes 1 loaf
4 medium very ripe bananas, 1 whole, 3 peeled and mashed
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup jam
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5" loaf pan.
Using a standing mixer or a hand-held electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat on medium speed until fully combined, about 1 minute per egg. Add mashed bananas, sour cream and peanut butter and beat until just combined, about 30 seconds. Add dry ingredients in 2 batches, beating on low after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl if necessary, until fully incorporated, about 20 seconds per batch.
Transfer half of batter to prepared pan. Spoon half of jam on top, swirling it gently into the batter. Spoon the remaining batter on top, and top with the rest of the jam, swirling it into the batter and smoothing the top with a spatula. Cut the remaining banana in half lengthwise, then place on top, pressing it gently into the batter.
Bake until bread is set, top is dark golden brown and starting to crack, sides are starting to pull away from pan, and a tester inserted into center of bread comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in pan on a wire rack at least 15 minutes. Run a butter knife around perimeter of pan to loosen loaf, then tap pan gently on its side until loaf releases. Transfer to a cutting board or plate and let cool completely before slicing.