Bourbon Banana Bread is a rich, extra-moist twist on classic banana bread, with a splash of bourbon and sour cream for a tender crumb that works just as well for breakfast as it does for dessert.
It’s funny how some recipes come about. I was at the supermarket the other morning when the woman in front of me asked if I’d hold her place while she sprinted off for bacon. When she returned, she explained she was having friends over for brunch and proceeded to recite her entire menu—from soup to nuts—while unloading her cart. Just as she finished and the line nudged forward, I heard her say, “Oh, and my famous bourbon banana bread.”
Wait… what??
I tried to get her attention while swiping my card (the pressure was on—there was a restless line behind me), but by the time I looked up she and her cart were already drifting away. All I caught was a faint, parting tip: “Just throw some bourbon in your favorite banana bread…”
bourbon banana bread highlights
Always up for a recipe challenge I got right to it…I can see why her banana bread was famous, bourbon adds that little something extra that makes a big difference. Suddenly a classic coffee break treat does double duty as dessert (imagine a scoop of vanilla over a warm slice.)
- a glug of bourbon adds a unique depth of flavor to a fabulously rich sour cream banana bread
- a bourbon laced glaze seals the deal.
This bread is moist and tender and all that you imagine it to be. I highly recommend giving it a try. By the way, if the combination of bourbon and banana is calling your name, you have to check out my BOURBON BANANA BUTTER!
common questions on bourbon banana bread
Some but not all of the alcohol in the bread itself bakes off, leaving flavor behind. The glaze contains only a small amount of bourbon, and its flavor is more aromatic than boozy.
Of course, you can double down on the vanilla for a lovely banana bread.
If you don’t have sour cream, full-fat Greek yogurt is the closest substitute and works beautifully here.
Yes, readers have added both walnut and pecans with success. I would add about 2/3-3/4 cup, chopped.
Yes! Just be sure to cool it completely first.
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Bourbon Banana Bread
Equipment
- 9×5 standard loaf pan
- parchment paper optional
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 Tbsp bourbon
- 1 Tbsp vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed, about 1 cup
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 1/2 tsp salt
bourbon glaze
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 4 tsp bourbon, more or less, to taste
- 1 Tbsp milk, or more as necessary to thin the glaze
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
Instructions
- Set oven to 350°F.
- Lightly spray a standard 9×5 loaf pan and line with a piece of parchment paper with long ends so you can lift out the bread after baking.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the bourbon and vanilla bean paste.
- Blend in the sour cream and mashed bananas.
- Toss the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cardamom and salt together.
- Add the dry ingredients slowly to the wet and blend just enough to get everything completely combined. Don't over mix.
- Turn the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until fully risen and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out without wet batter on it.
- Let the bread cool before glazing.
- To make the glaze, stir together the sugar, bourbon, and vanilla, adding a touch of milk or water to thin to glaze consistency.
- Pour or spread the glaze onto the cooled cake.
Nutrition
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40 minutes + 5 + 3
glaze + vanilla 1 Tbsp each, milk bourbon, 1/2 tsp vanilla
Hi! Am i reading the recipe correctly? There’s no sugar in the dough?
No, the second ingredient is sugar. It gets creamed with the butter in step 3.
This is the moistest banana bread I’ve ever had. I didn’t have any bourbon so ended up using rum, going to make it today with the bourbon and see if there’s a difference. Plus I’m going add some walnuts. I did miss the nuts. Very very good though. Thanks.
I made the Bourbon Banana Bread today and it is delicious! The unique flavor with the cardamom and bourbon worked so well. I used very ripe bananas and the only thing I did differently is used 1/3 c brown sugar and 2/3 cup sugar. This will definitely be my banana bread recipe for a special treat and gifts for friends!
I have at least 15 banana bread recipes. Every time one I haven’t tried comes along, I try it. I’m happy to say that the search has ended! This is the absolute best banana bread I’ve ever eaten, I left off the glaze and added chopped roasted pecans. The bread is moist, so tender, yet the top has a bit of crunch—unbelievably delicious!! Thanks for this recipe. It’s the one to keep!