Classic banana bread will never, ever go out of style, although a good banana bread mashup is really hard to beat (think: pumpkin banana bread, zucchini banana bread, and chocolate chip banana bread). To me, the most irresistible of all will always be blueberry banana bread. These two timeless recipes joined forces for one impossibly moist and tender quick bread.
Are Bananas and Blueberries Good Together?
Yes! Creamy, mellow banana and tart, vibrant blueberries are natural partners. In fact, they show up together in quite a few recipes: blueberry banana smoothies and blueberry banana snack cake, for example.
Mixing blueberries into banana bread batter gives this classic quick bread an extra pop of sweet, tangy flavor.
Can I Use Frozen Blueberries?
Fresh blueberries are always my top pick for quick bread and blueberry muffins—they hold their shape better during baking—but with that said, frozen blueberries also work well here. No need to thaw the berries first, just add them to the batter straight from the freezer. Frozen blueberries will soften and plump just like fresh berries, although when using frozen blueberries, the color is more likely to bleed into the bread.
Blueberry Banana Bread
Serves 8; makes one 8 1/2-by-5-inch loaf
- Cooking spray
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 very ripe large bananas
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries, divided (about 5 1/2 ounces, do not thaw)
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350 F. Coat an 8 1/2-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside.
Microwave the unsalted butter in a small microwave-safe bowl in 20-second increments until melted, 40 to 50 seconds total. (Alternatively, melt in a small saucepan over medium heat.) Set aside to cool until just warm.
Place the flour and baking soda in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
Mash the bananas in a large bowl with a fork or potato masher until smooth (1 to 1 1/4 cups mashed banana). Whisk in the melted butter, egg, light brown sugar, Greek yogurt or sour cream, vanilla extract, kosher salt, and the flour mixture.
Stir with a rubber spatula until just incorporated but no dry spots remain. Fold in 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries.
Scrape the batter into the loaf pan, push it into the corners, and smooth the top.
Scatter the remaining 1/4 cup of blueberries over the top.
Bake until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Place on a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Run a thin knife around the bread to loosen it from the pan, then flip out of the pan and place back on the rack to cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes more. Cut slices with a serrated knife.
Recipe Notes: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. The bread can also be wrapped tightly in aluminum foil and frozen for up to three months.
