Brown Butter Cardamom Banana Bread

Are you a lover of banana bread? In our household, all things banana go!
Banana bread, muffins, chocolate chip banana bread, banana cream pie, and the no-brainer: fresh bananas. We’ve taken traditional banana bread up a few notches with this cardamom banana bread recipe. Not only is it infused with yummy spices, but the butter in the recipe is sauteed to become nutty in flavor before adding it in.

We’ve also added in our Plum Deluxe which gives it an extra boost of yum! To give this loaf a delightful topping, we’ve baked in some banana’s foster. You’d think we’d be done there, but no; the addition of a homemade whipped butter infused with cinnamon tops it all off!

The Battle of the W’s: White vs Wheat

Wondering what the “Battle of the W’s” is? White versus wheat flour.
Traditionally, recipes use standard bleached white flour. Not in this one; we’re using whole wheat. This adds a wholesome element to the density, texture, and flavor of this banana bread recipe, which I’ve come to adore. I played around quite a bit while creating this, and this is a showstopper in my book!
The biggest difference between whole wheat flour and standard white flour is the level of fiber content found in each. When creating white flour, most of the fiber is simply not a part of the process. White flour is created using different parts of the plant that don’t store those extra benefits. Those extra benefits include iron, protein, and calcium: all things found in wheat flour.
There are benefits to while flour though, too. For one, it’s sooo yummy! The flavor, when baked into recipes, is delightful and delicious. There is more gluten in white flour, too so it results in a more gooey, or doughy, texture, which we all love in our desserts.
The shells in husks found in wheat flour don’t allow binding to occur as easily, therefore when baking with whole wheat flour in common desserts, they may be crumblier, or less “sticky.”
When it comes to baking bread, I often prefer a more dense, nutty texture, hands down! I often reminisce about my youth when thinking of whole-grain bread.
I had a classmate in school whose mom stone ground her flour and made honey whole wheat bread. It was the most amazing bread I’ve ever had in my entire life! I was always a bit envious of her fresh sandwiches from home she brought to school each day for lunch. If you’ve never tried a whole wheat honey bread, please do so sometime. It’s totally worth it!

Cardamom Banana Bread Tea Pairings

Our “Banana Bread” herbal dessert tea smells so divine! It’s a chocolate chestnut blend with banana pieces! Who knew, right? An added benefit is that it’s an herbal tea which means no caffeine, so it’s perfect for that late-night sweet tooth cardamom banana bread and cuppa tea!
I really have a soft spot for our Buttery Shortbread herbal tea. I especially like it with a little dab of honey. There’s such a buttery feel and creamy taste. The combo is unexpected but amazing! This tea features honeybush tea paired with cocoa peel and blackberry leaf.
A final recommendation of mine is Plum Deluxe’s Full Moon Chai. If you’re looking for something with a little more “spice” (not spicy hot though), it’s a perfect choice!
It’s our signature vanilla chai paired with a splash of vanilla butternut extract. This creation is heavenly harmony in your mouth. This chai has just the right amount of sweet and creamy without needing to add sugar and milk—although they’re always welcome if that makes your cuppa just right.