I use bananas in my house for everything from smoothies to oatmeal. Despite how many I go through each week, I’ll inevitably end up with an overripe banana or two. Once brown spots start to take over a banana’s yellow peel, I transfer it to the freezer to add to my collection for banana bread.
With plenty of moisture, a soft, tender texture, and exceptional banana flavor, banana bread is one of my favorite baked goods. It’s a classic for a reason! But as much as I love traditional banana bread, I also love making a custom loaf with simple mix-ins and toppings. This one-ingredient upgrade produces a satisfying crackly top and an excellent contrast of textures. You only need a spoonful of sugar, which is likely already out on the counter from prepping the batter.
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One Simple Addition for the Best Banana Bread
Sprinkling granulated sugar on top of your banana bread batter will enhance the finished loaf tenfold. It doesn’t add too much extra sweetness—the upgrade is all in how it transforms the texture. As the banana bread bakes, the sugar gets crackly and crispy. Because granulated sugar lacks moisture, it doesn’t seep into the batter. While the loaf is baking, a small amount of moisture is introduced to the sugar from the batter, causing the sugar to dissolve and then re-harden due to the heat of the oven and the rising of the loaf. After baking, you’re left with a crackly sugar top for the ultimate contrast against the soft bread underneath.
To achieve this topping, prep the banana bread batter and pour it into the loaf pan. For a standard 9-inch by 5-inch loaf, sprinkle two tablespoons of granulated sugar evenly over the top of the batter before transferring the loaf pan to the oven. If you want to add one or two tablespoons of extra sugar for additional sweetness and crunch, go for it.
Sugar Topping Variations
While granulated sugar is the easiest to reach for, you can achieve a crispy sugar topping with other types of sugars.
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Turbinado sugar: This is a coarse sugar with bigger granules. Sprinkle two tablespoons of turbinado sugar for an extra crunchy topping.
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Cinnamon sugar: Combine two tablespoons granulated sugar and one teaspoon ground cinnamon for a spiced, crackly sugar topping.
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Brown sugar: Sprinkle a quarter cup of brown sugar over the batter. This won’t produce as crackly of a topping due to its moisture content, but it will still add a nice depth of flavor and texture to the top of your loaf.
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