Peanut Butter 'n Honey Buttermilk Banana Bread

I had already decided I was going to make banana bread after a quick peak at the fruit basket.  But what I really wanted to do was recreate one of my most favorite things to eat, peanut butter and honey sandwiches with banana slices - on toast. How could just one loaf of bread evoke this personal favorite?

In my research I found a delightful buttermilk banana bread recipe from my friends at Tasty Kitchen. It is wonderfully light and richly banana flavored. Using this as my basic batter the results turned out to be just what I was hungry for, naturally I made a few changes...  Pour yourself a tall cold glass of milk and enjoy!

Peanut butter and honey cream tucked inside bread, candied nuts on top.

For the recipe, click Read More.
Peanut  Butter 'n Honey Buttermilk Banana Bread
Bread Batter Base: Use Mel's Kitchen Buttermilk Banana Bread Recipe
found at Pioneer Woman Tasty Kitchen

Ingredients
Peanut Butter and Honey Cream Ribbon

• 2 tablespoons marscapone cheese
• 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon buttermilk

Honey Spiced Peanut Crunch

• ½ cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon Ground Saigon Cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground Cardamon
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest

Prep
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
1. Prepare Buttermilk Banana Bread batter per instructions.
2. Butter or coat with vegetable spray the insides of a large loaf pan
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together ingredients for Peanut Butter and Honey Cream until smooth and fully blended; set aside.

Directions
After preparing the bread batter, pour 2/3rds of the batter in loaf pan. Add the Peanut Butter and Honey Cream in an even layer on top of the batter, cover with rest of bread batter. Place on middle rack in oven, bake for about 50-60 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.   Remove and cool on baking rack. While the bread is cooling prepare the Honey Spiced Peanut Crunch for the topping.

Honey Spiced Peanut Crunch: In small saute pan melt butter until just foaming, add brown sugar, honey and spices. Stir to mix then add nuts. Continue stirring and cook for about 3 minutes over medium heat. Pour candied nuts evenly over the top of the cooled banana bread.

Cook’s Tips
Only changes I made to Mel’s Kitchen’s most delicous recipe is I shifted the dry ingredients together before adding to the creamed butter, sugar mixture. Next time I would probably reduce the amount of sugar from 1 ½ cups to 1 scant cup.