Heavenly Lavender Banana Bread Recipe

Introduction

This Heavenly Lavender Banana Bread is a delightful twist on a classic favorite, blending sweet, ripe bananas with delicate floral notes of lavender. Its moist texture and lightly scented glaze make it an irresistible treat for any time of day.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon lavender extract
• 4 medium ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon lavender extract
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 ½ tablespoons milk
• a drop light pink or purple food coloring (optional)
• culinary lavender flowers (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 6-cup loaf pan with nonstick spray to prepare it for baking.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter and brown sugar. Add the beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and lavender extract, mixing thoroughly to blend the flavors.
4. Step 4: Stir in the mashed bananas until evenly incorporated. Gently fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to keep the batter light.
5. Step 5: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until the bread turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Step 6: Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then, invert it onto parchment paper and allow it to cool completely before glazing.
7. Step 7: For the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, lavender extract, heavy cream, milk, and a drop of light pink or purple food coloring until smooth. Adjust the consistency with a little more milk or powdered sugar if needed.
8. Step 8: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled banana bread. Garnish with culinary lavender flowers if desired for a rustic, elegant touch.

Tips & Variations

• Use overripe bananas for maximum sweetness and moisture.
• If you don’t have lavender extract, a teaspoon of dried culinary lavender infused in warm milk can be substituted.
• For a nutty crunch, fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans before baking.
• Adjust the amount of lavender extract to your liking, starting with less to avoid overpowering the banana flavor.

Storage

Store the banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and reheat gently if desired. The glaze is best added fresh after reheating to keep its texture.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh lavender instead of lavender extract?

Yes, you can infuse fresh culinary lavender flowers in warm milk to replace the extract. Strain the milk before adding it to the batter for a subtle floral note.

How do I know when the banana bread is fully baked?

The bread is done when it is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Avoid opening the oven too early to prevent sinking.

Heavenly Lavender Banana Bread Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 79 reviews

This Heavenly Lavender Banana Bread is a delightful twist on the classic banana bread, infused with the subtle floral notes of lavender extract and topped with a sweet, pastel-colored lavender glaze. Moist, tender, and fragrant, it makes for a perfect breakfast treat or an elegant dessert with a rustic touch of culinary lavender flowers.

• Author: Logan
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 1 loaf (approximately 8 servings) 1x
• Category: Baking
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Banana Bread:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon lavender extract
• 4 medium ripe bananas, mashed

Lavender Glaze:

• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon lavender extract
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 1/2 tablespoons milk
• a drop light pink or purple food coloring
• culinary lavender flowers (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Preheat and prepare the pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 6-cup loaf pan with nonstick spray to ensure easy removal of the bread.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning throughout the flour.
3. Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the melted and cooled butter with brown sugar until smooth. Then add the lightly beaten eggs, vanilla extract, and lavender extract, stirring to combine well.
4. Add bananas and combine: Stir the mashed ripe bananas into the wet mixture. Then gently fold the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined—you want to avoid over-mixing to keep the bread tender.
5. Bake the bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Cool the bread: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then carefully invert it onto parchment paper to cool completely before glazing.
7. Prepare the glaze: Whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, lavender extract, heavy cream, milk, and a drop of light pink or purple food coloring until smooth. Adjust the consistency with milk if needed.
8. Glaze and garnish: Drizzle the glaze over the cooled banana bread. Optionally, sprinkle culinary lavender flowers on top for a rustic and fragrant finish.

Notes

• Ensure the butter is cooled before mixing with eggs to avoid curdling.
• Do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added to maintain a tender crumb.
• Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and moist texture.
• The lavender extract is potent; measure carefully to avoid overpowering the banana flavor.
• The glaze consistency can be adjusted with more milk for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker one.
• For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with coconut oil and heavy cream with coconut cream.

Keywords: banana bread, lavender banana bread, floral banana bread, sweet glaze, homemade banana bread, baked banana treat