Ingredients

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

4 eggs (room temperature)

1 cup vegetable oil

⅔ cup whole milk

¼ cup bourbon

1 ½ teaspoons maple extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 5-6 bananas)

1 (8-ounce) package of chopped toffee

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix well and set aside.

Step 3: In a separate large bowl, whisk the white sugar and dark brown sugar thoroughly to remove any lumps. Add the eggs, vegetable oil, whole milk, bourbon, maple extract, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth, ensuring the brown sugar is fully broken up.

Step 4: Stir the mashed bananas into the wet ingredients until evenly combined.

Step 5: Gradually add a few spoonfuls of the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture, stirring after each addition until just combined. Repeat until all the flour mixture is incorporated. Finally, fold in the chopped toffee evenly.

Step 6: Prepare your pans by coating two 8 ½-inch-by-4 ½-inch loaf pans or eight 5 ½-inch-by-3-inch mini loaf pans with cooking spray. Alternatively, use one large loaf pan and five mini pans.

Step 7: Pour the batter into the prepared pans, leaving about an inch of space at the top to allow for rising.

Step 8: Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean—approximately 40-45 minutes for mini loaves and 55-60 minutes for larger loaves. If baking both sizes at once, remove the mini loaves earlier and continue baking the larger loaf as needed.

Step 9: Allow the banana bread to cool completely in the pans. Once cool, cover tightly with plastic wrap to keep fresh before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use very ripe bananas for the best sweetness and moisture.

Substitute bourbon with rum or omit it for a kid-friendly version, increasing the maple extract slightly for added flavor.

Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for extra crunch.

For a gluten-free version, replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend.

FAQs

Can I make this banana bread without bourbon?

Yes, you can omit the bourbon and increase the maple extract slightly or replace the bourbon with an equal amount of milk or water for a similar texture without the alcohol flavor.

How do I know when the banana bread is done?

The banana bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Baking times can vary depending on your oven and pan size, so start checking around the minimum baking time.