The world of baking is constantly evolving, with trends taking centre stage and inspiring delicious creations. One trend that's taken the internet by storm is the almond croissant flavour explosion. This decadent French pastry, beloved for its flaky layers and sweet almond filling, has transcended its traditional form and infiltrated other recipes. From overnight oats to pancakes, bakers are reimagining ways to capture the essence of the almond croissant.
Today, at 99th Monkey, we're joining the fun and elevating your regular banana bread into an extraordinary flavour bomb with an Almond Croissant Banana Bread recipe! This isn't your ordinary banana bread - it's an explosion of textures and tastes, with a hidden surprise in every bite.
Why Almond Croissant Banana Bread?
Think of it this way: you combine the comforting warmth and familiar sweetness of banana bread with the luxurious flavours of an almond croissant. It's the perfect marriage of comfort food and indulgence, perfect for a satisfying breakfast, afternoon snack, or even a decadent dessert.
What Makes This Banana Bread Special?
Here's what elevates this recipe beyond a regular banana bread:
- 99th Monkey Almond Butter Swirl: We ditch the traditional banana bread monotony by incorporating a swirl of our delicious almond butter. This adds depth of flavour and a delightful protein boost to the bread.
- Flaky Almond Topping: We take inspiration from the iconic croissant topping and sprinkle the bread with flaked almonds before baking. This adds a delightful textural contrast – soft, moist banana bread with a satisfyingly crunchy topping.
- Icing Sugar Dusting: A light dusting of icing sugar finishes the bread with a touch of sweetness and a beautiful aesthetic touch.
Simple Ingredients, Extraordinary Flavour:
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. You don't need a ton of fancy ingredients to create this flavour explosion. You'll likely have most of the staples already in your pantry:
Ingredients:
- 2 large bananas mashed
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup yoghurt
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tbs 99th Monkey Almond Butter
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 3/4 cup plain flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- pinch of salt and cinnamon
- Middle layer: 1/4 cup 99th Monkey Almond Butter
- Topping: handful of flaked almonds, icing sugar dusting
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and line a loaf tray with baking paper.
- To a small bowl, add eggs and whisk. Add the banana, oil, yoghurt, sugar, 1 tbs almond butter and vanilla and stir well.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Stir well to combine.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and gently stir in until just combined.
- Pour half the mixture into the tin. Dollop 1/4 cup almond butter over the batter and swirl around. Pour over the remaining banana bread mixture.
- Sprinkle the flaked almonds on the top.
- Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
- Let cool on a wire rack before slicing up to serve!
Tips & Tricks for Almond Croissant Banana Bread Perfection:
- Ripe Bananas are Key: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and moister your bread will be.
- Don't Over mix: Over mixing can lead to a tough and dense bread. Mix until just combined, then stop.
- Flake it Up: Use a variety of almond flake sizes for a more visually appealing and texturally interesting topping.
- Get Creative with Toppings: Drizzle with melted chocolate, add a scoop of ice cream, or use other chopped nuts like pistachios or walnuts.
- Warm or Cold Delight: This bread tastes fantastic warm from the oven or stored at room temperature for a few days.
