The little things make a big difference.   Today I’m sharing one of my favorite ways to make a new neighbor feel like they belong… with a recipe that says “Welcome!”   This Whipped Honey Butter is delicious … and perfect for a slice of warm banana bread. 

Banana Bread with Whipped Honey Butter

Today’s recipe for banana bread is one of my favorites.  It is simple and it never fails me.  I mix it up by adding chocolate chips or berries, at times, and it always turns out great.   Last year, I made this whipped honey butter for the bread and I have been making it often since then.   The kids and I love this snack!    I often put it on my High Protein Peanut Butter Banana Muffins as soon as they come out of the oven.

Banana Bread Ingredients:

• 2 large overripe bananas
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, melted
• 2 large eggs, room temp
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Peel the bananas.  Mash them with a fork.  I like to leave some chunks of banana for texture.   – leaving some chunky pieces for texture.  
• Place mashed bananas in a bowl with sugars and whip together with a hand mixer on medium speed until frothy, about 2-3 minutes.  
• Add melted Land O Lakes® Butter, eggs and vanilla.  Mix together until combined.  
• Add flour, soda, and salt and mix by hand until just combined.  Do not over mix, this will cause the bread to be tough.
• Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes to 1 hour.     
• *If you find that the bread is browning too quickly, turn down your oven to 325 degrees and tent pan with some foil.

Whipped Honey Butter Ingredients:

• 1 Stick of Land O Lakes® Butter, softened at room temp
• 3 Tbsp honey
• pinch of sea salt

Honey Butter Instructions:

• Place softened butter, in the bowl of the mixer with paddle attachment with honey and sea salt.
• Whip together on high for about 3 minutes.  
• Put whipped butter in a glass container with an air-tight lid.
• Store in refrigerator.  

This bread is just delicious.  While I love to eat it fresh out of the oven, it lasts several days if stored correctly.   I usually heat it up for a few seconds in the microwave and then put the button on the warm bread before eating it.

If you want to present the bread as a gift, store the bread in a beautifully wrapped wax paper.

Place it into a basket.   

Add your honey-butter (in a cute decorative jar) and some coffee beans.  

We love to gift our neighbors with our favorite hand-towels from a local boutique, as well.   Throw on a cute little Welcome Gift Tag and you have yourself a gift fit for a king…  a beautiful way to do something special.  The little things that make a big difference.  

ENJOY!!!

Still hungry?  Try this apple cobbler.