I love banana bread and adding strawberries to an already good thing makes it that much better.
When I saw a recipe for Strawberry Bread at Evan’s Eat Laugh Love for my Secret Recipe Club of the month assignment, I knew I wanted to play around with that recipe and see what I could come up with, and this was the lucky loaf.
If there’s one thing I despise, it’s dry baked goods. Muffins and bread can be among the worst offenders in the dry baked goods category, so I was especially careful to make sure this bread stayed moist.
I did that by adding some brown sugar because brown sugar tends to keep baked goodies moist. There’s a handy chart here about what to add and incorporate for chewy, soft, and moist cookies.
And bananas make anything moist and dense and such was the case with this loaf.
Don’t you just want to bite off the very top layer?
It’s the muffin top principle. Eat the muffin tops because they’re so moist, packed with flavor, and best part of the muffin, and then pawn off the remainder of the muffin onto less-clued in others, like my husband, who isn’t quite the moisture-content-connoisseur that I am.
I promise the entire loaf of bread tastes like a muffin top, so you don’t have to go cherry-picking off the best parts.
Or strawberry-picking, or banana-picking, in this case.
When the strawberries baked, not only did they make my house smell amazing, but they released a bit of moisture, also helping to create a really moist, luscious loaf.
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Strawberry Banana Bread (with Gluten-Free & Vegan suggestions)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 medium banana, divided (mash half – about 1/4 cup mashed banana; slice the other half – about 10 thin slices)
1/4 cup canola oil
1 egg white, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup strawberries, diced (I used TJ’s frozen strawberries, thawed and diced; or try mixed berries)
Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan by either lining it with foil, allowing for overhang to easily lift out the bread or by spraying well with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugars, baking soda, cinnamon and stir to combine. Slice a banana in half and mash one half with a fork and slice the other half into thin discs. Add the mashed banana to the dry ingredients and stir. Add the oil, beaten egg white, vanilla and stir until just combined. Gently fold in 3/4 cup strawberries. Pour batter into prepared pan and top with 1/4 cup strawberries and banana slices, pressing them very gently into the surface of the batter. Bake for 45 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean (Depending on moisture content bananas and berries, cooking times may vary from 40 to 50 minutes). Allow bread to cool before removing it from the pan. Slice and serve as is, or add butter, cream cheese, jelly, or frosting, if desired. Store extra bread in an airtight container on the countertop or store in the freezer for up to three months.
Notes: I suspect you could use this batter as muffin batter. I’d bake for 18-20 minutes at 350F and start watching them closely from there. To keep gluten free, use GF flour. To keep vegan, replace the egg white with a chia/flax egg, egg replacer, or add extra banana or applesauce.
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This bread was very quick to make. A true quick bread.
And it’s almost vegan, shy of one little beaten egg white, which I’m sure could be omitted and replaced with a bit of extra banana, applesauce, or a flax egg.
I hate flimsy, thin little slices of bread that break, crumble, and don’t hold their shape from plate to mouth, so I sliced this bread nice and thick.
There’s that muffin top principle again.
Even though there are bananas and strawberries woven into the bread, it’s the slices of bananas and strawberry pieces layered on top of the loaf that are so tempting.
I love butter on bread. Who doesn’t?
But this bread was so moist that it didn’t even need to be buttered. Not that I would have complained with a pat of butter placed on warm bread or anything, but it was good enough that Skylar and I inhaled half the loaf the minute the pictures were done, sans butter.
Related banana recipes:
Peanut Butter Banana Bread (Vegan, GF)
Banana Crepes Roll-Ups (Raw, Vegan, GF)
Cinnamon Raisin Banana Oatmeal Muffins (Vegan, GF)
Banana Nut Muffins (Vegan, GF)
I also have a banana recipes post highlighting some of my favorite recipes using bananas.
And if you like fruit in baked goods, try these Mango and White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Awesome job on this recipe, it sounds amazing! I adore just about anything banana, but have not had banana bread in a long time!
I love banana bread! Haha I have banana protein pancakes up on my blog today – I think we’re all going through a banana craze! I’m heading home for two weeks on Wednesday so I think that’s why I have bananas on my brain ;).
I gotta admit I have never tried strawberries with bananas, so I think that’s a must!
Your pancakes look STELLAR!
I have been craving banana bread lately for some reason, and yours looks fantastic! I love the addition of strawberries, and I, too, am a firm believer in extremely moist bread cut into thick slabs :)
extremely moist bread cut into thick slabs = we think alike!
Wow, this recipe looks fabulous! I’ve gotten so I just love to have fresh berries in the house, and this looks like a fun way to use them. I’m certain my kids will love it! Thanks!
I used frozen for this b/c I’m too cheap to “waste” fresh berries by baking them…lol
“The muffin top principle” – there’s got to be a metaphor-for-all-of-life in there, I just can’t quite grasp it ;)
I got your email and will write back as soon as I have a chance! I know EXACTLY what you’re saying!
metaphor…indeed.
no rush either, I’ve been buried today and am trying to come up for air….lol
The strawberries make this bread so pretty!! Yum!
I’ve never heard of such a thing (Strawberrry Banana Bread)! I will have to make it soon! I love the beautiful color of it as well…
This is stinking gorgeous and yes, I want to eat off the top layer, right away. YUM!
all your food is so pretty!
I have a friend whose birthday is coming up and he LOVES strawberry baked goods. I am totally making this or a cupcake version for him- thanks!
well give me a field report if you end up making it!
or make these..they rock!
https://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/01/strawberry-cake-mix-cookies-with-vanilla-cream-cheese-frosting.html
I love banana bread…and definitely with strawberries added! Yum! Sounds and looks delicious. Great pick for Secret Recipe Club! I have mine next week and have a delicious treat in mind…
SRC posts are so fun, arent they!
well that’s a great idea/addition to banana bread.
i’m always looking for new ways to kick up banana bread.
Trust me, I almost didnt make this b/c I was like…well…how many ways can I really make banana bread ‘unique’ but it had been almost 2 yrs so figured I was due for a nana bread post :)
I am so excited I won the giveaway. Very fitting because I am such a huge peanut butter fan!!! My two favorite banana bread recipes are your pb banana bread because it is so moist, delicious and healthy! Katie Lee has an really great recipe for a very cakey dessert like banana bread. Love the pink on your site!
I didn’t even remember that you had tried my pb banana bread. Fun that Katie Lee has a good recipe, too. There are so many good ones (thanks to you!) on her site :)
Congrats on the win. I know you’ll enjoy!
LOVE banana bread – it always reminds me of my grandma, and that’s never a bad thing ;) By the way, I really did spend about an hour going through your back post yesterday — I just can’t get over your photos! So beautiful, Averie!
Well you just made my day knowing that because your photos are gorgeous! Hope the move to CA has been treating you right! :)
Dyinggggg. I have all these ingredients.
This looks dreamy. Toasted with a bit of almond or peanut butter, this would be incredible.
Thanks and I agree!
Strawberry and banana seems like such a natural combination- I can’t believe I’ve never seen a recipe for a bread or muffin combining the two! This looks SO delicious! (I’d probably eat it warm… with some vanilla ice cream….)
I know and can’t believe I don’t have this smoothie combo either. That’s gonna change soon too!