Nate’s Bourbon Banana Bread

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup raw / Turbinado sugar
  • 2 cups mashed ripe bananas
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup good bourbon (I use Woodford Reserve)
  • Butter flavored cooking spray

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spray 2 dark loaf pans (9 x 5) with butter flavored cooking spray.
  3. Whisk together flours, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
  4. In another bowl, whisk the eggs.
  5. Add vanilla to eggs.
  6. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with a mixer until light and fluffy.
  7. Gradually add the egg mixture to the sugar mixture while mixing.
  8. Add the bananas to the egg and sugar mixture.
  9. With a spoon or spatula, add the flour mixture to the batter until just incorporated.
  10. Fold in nuts.
  11. Stir in bourbon.
  12. Pour into prepared pans.
  13. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  14. Cool in pans or on wire racks for 5 minutes.
  15. Turn loaves out of pans and cool completely on wire racks.
  16. Wrap in plastic wrap and then put into a Ziploc bag.
  17. Serve within 2 days or freeze.
  18. Enjoy plain or topped with butter or whipped cream cheese.