Moist Julia Child Banana Bread Recipe with Timeless Flavor

Banana bread by julia child emerges as a culinary symphony, transforming forgotten, browning fruits into pure magic.

Overripe bananas beckon bakers to craft something extraordinary with this legendary recipe.

Tender crumbs whisper stories of comfort and nostalgia with every slice.

Warm kitchen aromas drift through the air, promising delectable moments of bliss.

Ingredients meld together in a delicate dance of sweetness and complexity.

Each bite carries the signature of masterful baking technique.

This bread invites you to savor a slice of pure culinary joy.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 210 kcal

Servings: 8

Banana Bread à la Julia: Ingredients

• Ripe Bananas: Select bananas with deep brown spots for maximum sweetness and intense banana flavor.
• Butter: Use unsalted butter at room temperature for smooth blending and rich taste.
• Egg: Choose fresh, large eggs for best binding and texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Opt for pure vanilla extract to enhance overall depth of flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour: Pick unbleached flour for better texture and more natural taste.
• Granulated Sugar: Select fine white sugar for even sweetness distribution.
• Baking Soda: Use fresh baking soda to ensure proper rising and light texture.
• Salt: Pick fine table salt for balanced seasoning.

• Walnuts: Select fresh, crunchy walnuts for added texture and nutty complexity.
• Chocolate Chips: Choose high-quality dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips for indulgent bursts of flavor.

Baking Tools for French Banana Bread

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining ingredients smoothly and easily.
• Fork: Essential for mashing bananas into a creamy texture.
• 8×4-inch loaf pan: Ideal size for baking classic banana bread.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Helps measure ingredients accurately.
• Whisk or wooden spoon: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients together.
• Cooling rack: Allows bread to cool evenly without getting soggy.
• Sharp bread knife: Ensures clean, neat slices of banana bread.
• Toothpick: Helps check if the bread is fully baked.
• Aluminum foil: Optional for covering bread if it browns too quickly.
• Oven: Necessary for baking the banana bread to golden perfection.

Julia’s Instructions for Moist Banana Bread

• Fire Up Your Oven and Pan

Get your oven blazing at 350°F and give your loaf pan a generous butter massage to keep everything from sticking around.

• Create Banana Magic

Smash those ripe bananas into a silky smooth masterpiece. Drizzle in melted butter and mix until everything looks happy together. Toss in baking soda, salt, sugar, a beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Gently fold in flour until your batter looks smooth and dreamy.

• Bake to Perfection

Pour your luscious mixture into the waiting pan and slide it into the hot oven. Hang out for 55 to 65 minutes while your kitchen fills with irresistible aromas. When a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs, you’ve hit the jackpot. If the top starts getting too tan, drape some aluminum foil over it like a protective blanket.

• Cool and Slice with Love

Let your beautiful banana bread chill in the pan for a quick five minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and give it time to settle down. Grab a sharp knife and slice into heavenly pieces that will make everyone’s mouth water. Your homemade comfort is ready to steal the show!

Tips for Texture and Add-Ins

• Boost Your Banana Bread Magic
• Customize Mix-Ins: Toss in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit to elevate flavor complexity and add delightful texture surprises.
• Perfect Ripeness Hack: Select super dark, spotted bananas for maximum sweetness and deeper banana flavor that transforms your bread.
• Gluten-Free Swap: Replace regular flour with a one-to-one gluten-free blend for those with dietary restrictions without compromising taste or texture.
• Storage Success: Wrap completely cooled banana bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or freeze slices for longer preservation.

Serving This Banana Bread Just Right

• Pair with Morning Brew: Slice the warm banana bread and serve alongside a steaming cup of coffee or tea for a delightful breakfast experience.
• Create Decadent Dessert: Transform the bread into a dessert by topping with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of caramel sauce, or a sprinkle of chopped nuts for extra crunch.
• Pack for Picnic Pleasure: Wrap individual slices in parchment paper for a perfect portable snack during outdoor adventures, road trips, or midday work breaks.
• Elevate with Spread: Enhance each slice with a layer of cream cheese, honey, almond butter, or chocolate spread to add an extra dimension of flavor and richness.

Keeping It Fresh After Baking

• Maximize Freshness: Store banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, keeping its soft texture and rich flavor intact.
• Refrigerate with Care: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap or place in a sealed container to extend shelf life to one week, preventing moisture loss and maintaining delicious taste.
• Freeze for Later: Slice the bread before freezing, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag, allowing quick and easy defrosting for unexpected guests or sudden cravings.
• Revive Stale Slices: Quickly warm individual pieces in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or toast lightly in a skillet with a touch of butter to restore moisture and bring back that fresh-baked warmth.

Moist Julia Child Banana Bread Recipe

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4.7 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Julia Child’s banana bread combines classic comfort with French culinary finesse, creating a delightful baked treat. Moist crumb and rich flavor invite bakers to savor each slice with pure enjoyment.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2–3 bananas (medium ripe, about 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups mashed)
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup sugar (½ cup for less sweet, 1 cup for more sweet)
• ⅓ cup butter (unsalted or salted), melted
• 1 egg (large), beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 pinch salt

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lavishly coat an 8×4-inch loaf pan with butter, ensuring a seamless release.
2. Banana Transformation: Pulverize ripe bananas into a silky puree, eliminating any substantial chunks. Integrate melted butter, creating a harmonious mixture that promises rich, moist texture.
3. Flavor Fusion: Sprinkle baking soda and salt into the banana blend. Whisk the egg independently before marrying it with the mixture. Introduce granulated sugar and vanilla extract, stirring until a cohesive concoction emerges.
4. Batter Alchemy: Delicately sift flour into the wet ingredients, employing a gentle folding technique to maintain an airy, tender crumb. Avoid overzealous mixing to prevent a dense, tough bread.
5. Baking Ritual: Gracefully pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula to guarantee even distribution and an aesthetically pleasing top.
6. Oven Transformation: Nestle the pan in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes. Evaluate doneness by inserting a toothpick—minimal dry crumbs indicate perfection. Should the exterior darken prematurely, drape with aluminum foil to protect from excessive browning.
7. Cooling Finale: Liberate the bread from the oven and allow it to rest momentarily in the pan. Transfer to a wire rack, permitting complete cooling before wielding a sharp bread knife to slice with surgical precision.

Notes

• Ripeness Matters: Use extremely ripe, almost blackened bananas for maximum natural sweetness and deeper flavor profile.
• Avoid Overmixing: Gently fold flour into wet ingredients to prevent developing tough, dense bread texture and maintain soft, tender crumb.
• Foil Protection Technique: If bread browns too quickly during baking, loosely tent with aluminum foil to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
• Cooling Critical: Allow bread to rest in pan briefly before transferring to wire rack, preventing potential structural collapse and ensuring clean slicing.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg