Streusel Nut Topped Banana Bread

Hello everyone!

I am so excited to share my most favorite banana bread recipe! We are usually pretty good at eating all of our bananas before they get too ripe but this week we were eating too many Cuties! That's okay though, that just means Banana Bread! 

Every recipe I've tried from my Taste of Homes cook book has been super yummy. It's full of traditional recipes that are just plain good! This recipe for Banana Bread is no exception. I've been making it for a long time, and every time it turns out just as good (or better) as the last.  

So let's have a talk about the streusel topping. The streusel topping is optional but I highly recommend it! It gives your traditional (already delicious) banana bread an awesome crunch! It takes banana bread to the next level. It only takes a couple extra minutes to throw together and it's absolutely worth it. 

I hope you enjoy it! Once you make some, it won't last long. I can promise you that!

Streusel Nut Topped Banana Bread
From the Taste of Home cook book

2 cups all-purpose flour (I used half white, half whole wheat)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (4-5 medium)
1 cup sugar (I used half white and half Splenda)
1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine
1/4 cup walnuts (optional)
1 recipe Streusel-Nut topping (also optional but highly recommended)s

Streusel Nut Topping
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5 inch or two 7x3-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in walnuts (optional). Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). 
3. For Streusel Nut topping: In a small bowl combine brown sugar and flour. Using a pastry blender or fingers, cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in chopped walnuts. Sprinkle topping over batter in pan(s)
4. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5-inch pan or 40 to 45 minutes for 7x3-inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. 
Get ready for this bread to be devoured!