Nutella Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 3 medium or 2 large frozen bananas

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg lightly beaten

• 1/2 cup cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, yogurt or sour cream at room temp. You can really using anything to add some creaminess and moisture.

• 1 tsp vanilla 

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/3 cup Nutella

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Defrost bananas on counter for 2 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and lightly grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper for easy removal from pan.

3. Cut ends off bananas and squeeze into a large mixing bowl. Mash up with a whisk.

4. Melt butter in a small sauce pan on medium until milk solids start to brown and butter smells nutty. About 10 minutes. Butter should be the color of a paper bag with a layer of frothy bubbles on top.

5. Pour butter into bananas. Add sugar, mascarpone and vanilla. Whisk until combined.

6. Add egg. Make sure the mixture is cool enough that you won't make scrambled eggs. 

7. In a separate bowl combine salt, flour, cinnamon and baking soda. 

8. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until combined. Do not over mix!

9. Pour 1/2 batter into loaf pan and spread to the edges with a spatula. 

10. Spoon dollops of Nutella on top of batter. Swirl with a toothpick.

11. Repeat with remaining batter and Nutella.

12. Bake for 40-45 minutes. A tooth pick should come out with a few moist crumbs. 

13. Let the loaf cool 15 minutes before removing from pan. Lift loaf out of pan by the parchment paper and return to cooling rack.

14. Let cool for another 15-30 minutes before slicing.