I’ve discovered a new way to caffeinate.

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

And it involves cake. I mean bread. I mean cake, disguised as bread. We all know that’s what this really is, right? This whole banana bread thing is really just a big old cake masquerading as bread so we don’t feel as terrible about ourselves when we house three slices right out of the oven, burning every last taste bud off our tongue due to this syndrome called extreme impatience.

Yes, it’s all the cake bread’s fault.

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

Not surprisingly whatsoever, the glaze is my favorite part. It’s embarrassing really, assuming that anything on earth could make banana bread taste better, but I have found it. For me, I’ll tell you what doesn’t work: nuts. No nuts in my bread. Or my cake. Or my dessert, forever ever.

But espresso glaze? I have unlocked the secret to being able to consume more banana bread than we thought was humanely possible.

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

The glaze is just so… warm. WarmING. I mean, not physically warm or anything, but it’s warming to the soul. I’m getting deep, I know. It’s void of all spices but for some reason, the espresso and the sugar just whip into this deliciously warm tasting blanket of love.

That is going to cover your bread cake. I mean cake bread.

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

Also! Look at this crunchy top. I added turbinado sugar before baking, so it was crunchy UNDER the glaze. Um, best idea ever. Hello.

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

FUNNY you should mention that I’m still on a mini-hiatus from coffee at the moment. (read: just this week, before I go wacky.). It’s pretty apparent that I might be losing my mind to the caffeine addiction when I find it necessary to cover my baked goods in it.

But here’s the thing! The banana bread also has a teeeeeny hint of espresso powder, so it lends a richness to the flavor without tasting like a big old cup of coffee.

It works together and tastes just a leeeettle different than plain old banana bread.

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

I’ve shared quite a few banana bread recipes over the years, soooo can you tell I’m crazy obsessed with the glaze here? IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GLAZE!

Nooooo. Not crazy at all.

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

Banana Bread with Espresso Glaze

5 from 44 votes
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Ingredients

espresso glaze

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan thoroughly with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt, whisking thoroughly. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and brown sugar until smooth. Add in the milk and coconut oil, whisking until combined. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract until mixed. Slowly stir in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour batter in the greased loaf pan. Top with coarse sugar.
  • Place the loaf pan on a baking sheet and set in the oven. Bake for 75 to 85 minutes, or until the center is set. If the streusel begins to brown, tent the bread with aluminum foil. Remove the bread and let it cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Gently turn the bread out on a plate or cutting board and let it cool completely before glazing.

espresso glaze

  • Whisk together the ingredients until a smooth, drippy glaze forms. If the mixture is too thin, you can thicken it by adding a little more powdered sugar. If it seems too thick, add 1 teaspoon of milk at a time, whisking to combine. Pour it over the banana bread and let it set for 30 minutes before slicing.
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I appreciate you so much!

banana bread with espresso glaze I howsweeteats.com

I might just drink a shot of that instead.