Espresso Banana Bread Recipe on Food52 (2024)

I am a real banana bread lover. This recipe is excellent and will now be my go to. Thank you so much.

This is my absolute favorite banana bread recipe. I've used butter, olive oil, and canola oil, 3 or 4 bananas (depending on what needs to get used up), 1/2-2/3c sugar, AP/spelt/WW flour... so many variations and it's always moist and delicious. I usually make 3 mini loaves and either share or freeze for later.

mac October 22, 2021

I really enjoy this! Something about the coffee flavor compliments the banana well and gives it an almost savory taste. I cut the sugar to just 1/2 cup, use coconut oil, and usually mix wheat flour or wheat germ with the white flour. You may find yourself second guessing the length of time in the oven, but it really does take the full hour. The addition of nuts would be good to change up the texture if you're feelin' it, but just as good without!

T July 18, 2021

This is a perfectly moist bread!! Bakes 10 large muffin cups.
Reduced sugar to 1/2 cup and oil is 75g. 170C for 25 min was perfect :)

Love this recipe! I've already shared it with a few other friends. They never thought to add coffee to their banana bread. Now with this recipe I started adding a handful of chopped walnuts and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. I feel like its changed the sweetness and overall moistness of the bread. Am I supposed to make other adjustments when I add those two in?

This was easy to make and the espresso gave it a nice oomph. I’ll try with chocolate chips next time. My ten-year old son devoured it.

This was amazing. I included chocolate chips. I used sea salt which is what I had available, and I think some of it stayed intact to give some salted chocolate flavor bursts. Also I had to use a smaller loaf pan and it worked fine, just kept checking with a skewer. Due to gooey banana the skewer might still be a little sticky even when ready - just not pulling out raw batter.

BB July 25, 2020

Something didn’t quite work in this recipe and it has an odd flavour to it. Going to try again and use butter instead of coconut oil and see if that makes a difference. Crossing my fingers! :)

So good, so very moist. rave reviews

I made this the other day. exactly like the recipe, I add a bit of semi sweet chocolate, I also make cold brew at my house so I added that to the bread instead of the espresso. this cake is so moist! delish!

Love it fiveandspice! Thanks for the great recipe. The only thing I will change next time is to add in some walnuts.

This was lovely with the addition of a small handful of chocolate chips and a large handful of toasted walnuts. It baked up with wonderfully crisp edges and a moist, almost custard-like center (though it was definitely baked through). The banana, coffee, vanilla, chocolate and coconut play nicely together...like they're having a reunion outside of the tropics. The only problem is that it's nighttime and it's hard to stop eating it!

Just pulled this out of the oven and it was very tasty. It was moist and delicious! I used the smallest setting on my Kuirig and the espresso flavor came through just fine. This has now replaced my family's banana bread recipe (sorry mom!)

Made this last night but with the alteration of chai soaked raisins as recommended by Kerry. I didn't have any espresso and it sounded yummy. I also only used 1/3 cup of sugar and it was still very sweet. My co-workers devoured it none the less.

This is a great recipe as is. ... BUT...the 7 year old didn't like the coffee taste, and the 12 year old wasn't fussed either way. So I made some changes that would still satisfy the adults. Oh, and btw, does everyone know the trick about roasting whole unpeeled bananas if yours aren't super ripe? brilliant. Changes: 3/4 cup raisins soaked in strong chai tea for one hour, drained and then added to food processor with banana, egg etc...omitted coffee all together, so Used 1/2 cup melted butter plus the greek yog. Used 1/4 brown sugar and 1/2 cup white. In dry, I added 1/2 tsp cardamom, and 1 tbsp cocoa powder. Everybody is very happy!

jenny August 10, 2015

I've made this twice now, it's great and keep moist for days!! I added fresh finely ground espresso directly, and also 1/2 tsp ground cardamom (I love cardamom in my coffee!), and the flavour was lovely, not overpowering but definitely there. I also subbed in 1/2 cup coconut flour for the wholeweat. This is now my go-to recipe for banana bread!

Yum! I used 1 tbsp of ground espresso which gave a good amount of a coffee hit but not overpowering.... Also used a combo of wholemeal and coconut flour. Very yummy, more dense than my usual recipe for banana bread, in a good way!

I really liked how this turned out, although I don't know what caused my beautifully rounded top to flatten so dramatically when I took it out of the oven. I left it in the tin as recommended too, so baffled. The flavour however was gorgeous, I am not a banana fan and I think the only time they become edible is in cake. My housemate on the other hand, loves them and also appreciated the cake (and ate three pieces, which is uncharacteristic of him, so clearly the flattening didn't impact too much). I gave my cake an hour and five minutes, cake tester came out completely clean and dry but interestingly the inside - especially the bottom of the cake was moist and even somewhat gooey - but still seemed to be cooked. Will have to see if this is a feature of this cake or if it was something I did this time around.

It is in the oven now~ smells fab! We had 4 large bananas, so added another egg, used 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup sugar and 2 cups flour (guesstimated the rest of the ingredients). Used a large scoop to make 6 muffins and the rest went in the pan. We won't have to wait the full hour to get a taste!! Thanks for a new style of banana bread!!

I am pretty disappointed right now. I just got done making this treat and it just isn't as great as you sold it. I was super excited about it too because I love banana bread and coffee. I used the 2 ounces of espresso and did the granules. Still, you cannot taste even a hint of espresso. Super bummed out. Out of 5 stars, I would give this one a 3 at best.