If you love classic banana bread, just wait until you try this Banana Bread with Streusel Topping. Every slice is incredibly moist, packed with sweet banana flavor, and topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel that bakes into a crisp, irresistible crumb topping. It's the perfect treat for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or an afternoon coffee break.
Banana Bread with Streusel Topping Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Snack, Dessert
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 10 slices
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Sweet, buttery, moist, banana-filled, warm cinnamon, crunchy streusel topping like our blueberry crumb cake,
- 🍚 Best Served With: Butter, cream cheese, peanut butter, coffee, tea, milk, or fresh fruit
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes! Bake up to 2 days ahead or freeze the loaf for later.
Summarize and Save This Content On
This easy homemade banana bread comes together with simple pantry staples and ripe bananas, making it a wonderful way to use up overripe fruit. One bite of the tender loaf and crunchy cinnamon topping, and you'll understand why this recipe quickly becomes a family favorite.
My grandma always believed banana bread made any day a little brighter. Whenever bananas became too ripe to eat, she knew something delicious was about to come out of the oven. The warm aroma of cinnamon and freshly baked banana bread filled her kitchen, and somehow everyone always seemed to gather around just as it was cool enough to slice.
The buttery cinnamon streusel topping takes this banana bread from everyday to bakery-worthy without adding much extra work. It bakes into a crisp, golden topping that perfectly complements the soft, tender loaf underneath.
This recipe was inspired by my homemade banana bread cake and banana bread cookies recipe on this site, and pairs wonderfully with my strawberry butter, pecan honey butter (or maple), or a hot cup of coffee for an easy breakfast or afternoon treat.
Jump to:
- Banana Bread with Streusel Topping Recipe Essentials
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- Variations
- How to Make Banana Bread with Streusel Topping
- Expert Tips
- Storage Directions
- Serving Suggestions
- Banana Bread with Streusel Topping Recipe FAQs
- More Banana Bread Recipes
- Banana Bread with Streusel Topping
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Perfectly moist and flavorful: Ripe bananas, sour cream, and butter create an incredibly tender loaf with rich banana flavor, while the buttery cinnamon streusel adds the perfect crunchy finish.
- Easy bakery-style recipe: Made with simple pantry ingredients, like our peanut butter pop-tarts, and just a few easy steps, this homemade banana bread tastes like it came from your favorite bakery.
- Perfect anytime: Enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, dessert, an afternoon snack, or package a loaf as a thoughtful homemade gift.
Ingredients
Everything you need for this banana bread streusel topping is easy to find, and you may already have most of it in your kitchen. Ripe bananas and a handful of pantry staples come together to create an incredibly moist loaf with a crisp cinnamon streusel topping.
For the Banana Bread
- Dry ingredients: All-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt work together to create a soft, tender loaf with the perfect rise, warm spice, and balanced flavor.
- Wet ingredients: Ripe bananas, melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla combine to make the banana bread incredibly moist, rich, flavorful, and perfectly sweet.
For the Streusel Topping
- Streusel mixture: Flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter create a buttery, sweet cinnamon crumb topping that bakes up crisp and golden.
- Optional nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts add a delicious crunch and nutty flavor to every slice.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Fruit additions: Fold in blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, diced apples, peaches, or shredded coconut for extra flavor and moisture.
- Chocolate & sweet mix-ins: Stir in semi-sweet, milk, dark, or white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, caramel bits, or toffee pieces for a sweeter loaf.
- Nutty crunch: Add chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts to the batter or streusel for extra texture and flavor.
- Warm spices & extracts: Change the flavor with pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, nutmeg, cardamom, maple extract, almond extract, or a splash of bourbon.
- Streusel & glaze options: Swap the nuts for oats, drizzle the cooled loaf with a vanilla, maple, cream cheese, or caramel glaze, or sprinkle coarse sugar over the streusel for extra crunch.
- Make muffins: Divide the batter evenly among lined or greased muffin cups, filling each about ⅔ to ¾ full and then topped with streusel. Bake at 350°F for 18 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
How to Make Banana Bread with Streusel Topping
This banana bread with streusel topping comes together in just 6 simple steps. The batter mixes quickly, the buttery cinnamon streusel adds a bakery-style finish, and the oven does the rest. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
Step 2: Make the Batter
In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and stir gently just until combined. Do not overmix.
Step 3: Fill the Pan and Make the Streusel
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the streusel. Add the melted butter and mix with a fork until crumbly, then stir in the chopped nuts, if using.
Step 4: Add the Topping and Bake
Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the batter, gently pressing it down with a fork so it adheres. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely tent the loaf with foil during the last 15 to 20 minutes of baking.
Step 5: Cool the Bread
Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then use the parchment paper overhang to carefully lift it onto a wire rack to cool further.
Step 6: Slice and Serve
Slice the banana bread and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy as is or spread with butter for an extra delicious treat.
Expert Tips
- Use ripe bananas: Choose very ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the sweetest flavor, best moisture, and richest banana taste.
- Mix gently: Stir the batter just until the flour disappears. Overmixing can make the bread dense instead of soft and tender.
- Perfect the streusel: Mix the topping with a fork until crumbly, then gently press it onto the batter so it stays in place and creates a crisp, bakery-style topping.
- Bake with confidence: If the streusel begins browning before the center is fully baked, loosely tent the loaf with aluminum foil during the last 15 to 20 minutes of baking.
- Cool before slicing: Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. This helps the crumb set and makes cleaner slices.
- Add extra crunch: Stir ⅓ cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping for even more texture and delicious nutty flavor.
If you love streusel topping banana bread recipes like this, you may also enjoy our chocolate chip banana bread and pumpkin banana bread.
Storage Directions
This streusel topping for banana bread tastes wonderful the day it's baked, but it also stores beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or enjoying throughout the week.
Room Temperature: Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Let slices come to room temperature or warm slightly before serving for the best texture.
Freezer: Wrap the whole loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil or place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Reheat: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds or toast lightly in a toaster oven for a crisp streusel topping.
Make Ahead: Bake the loaf a day in advance or prepare the streusel topping up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate until ready to use.
Serving Suggestions
- Breakfast favorites: Serve warm with butter, honey butter, banana peanut butter smoothie, cream cheese, or your favorite fruit preserves.
- Coffee shop pairing: Enjoy with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pumpkin chai latte, or a pumpkin spice latte for a cozy breakfast or afternoon snack.
- Fresh fruit: Pair with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, sliced bananas, peaches, or a fresh fruit salad for a lighter meal.
- Dessert upgrade: Top a warm slice with vanilla ice cream with butter toffee peanuts, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or a drizzle of maple syrup for an easy dessert.
- Brunch spread: Add it to a brunch table with organic almond butter, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, granola, crockpot apple butter and fresh fruit for a delicious homemade breakfast.
Banana Bread with Streusel Topping Recipe FAQs
This usually happens if the batter was overmixed, the oven door was opened too early, or the loaf was underbaked.
Overripe bananas are sweeter, softer, and mash easily, giving the bread the best flavor and moist texture.
Yes. Thaw them completely, drain any excess liquid if needed, then mash and use as directed.
Absolutely! You'll still have a delicious classic banana bread with a soft, moist crumb.
More Banana Bread Recipes
If you love moist homemade banana bread, you're in for a treat! Here are a few more delicious banana bread recipes you'll want to bake next, from timeless classics to fun new flavor combinations.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Banana Bread with Streusel Topping
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Banana Bread
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 large ripe bananas mashed or about 1½ cups mashed (360 mL)
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup sour cream or plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Streusel Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Optional (Fold into the batter before baking)
- ⅓-½ cup pecans or walnuts chopped
- ½-¾ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients and stir gently just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the streusel. Add the melted butter and mix with a fork until crumbly, then stir in the chopped nuts, if using.
- Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the batter, gently pressing it down with a fork so it adheres. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely tent the loaf with foil during the last 15 to 20 minutes of baking.
- Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then use the parchment paper overhang to carefully lift it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Slice and serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy plain or spread with butter, honey butter, cream cheese, or your favorite fruit butter.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas: Choose very ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the sweetest flavor, best moisture, and richest banana taste.
- Mix gently: Stir the batter just until the flour disappears. Overmixing can make the bread dense instead of soft and tender.
- Perfect the streusel: Mix the topping with a fork until crumbly, then gently press it onto the batter so it stays in place and creates a crisp, bakery-style topping.
- Bake with confidence: If the streusel begins browning before the center is fully baked, loosely tent the loaf with aluminum foil during the last 15 to 20 minutes of baking.
- Cool before slicing: Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 20 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. This helps the crumb set and makes cleaner slices.
- Add extra crunch: Stir ⅓ cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the streusel topping for even more texture and delicious nutty flavor.
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