This whole grain banana bread is made with brown butter for extra flavor! It's so wildly good I may have to brown my butter for all banana bread from here on out!
Next whip up your flax egg. Simply combine 1 tablespoon of ground flax with 3 tablespoons of water, whisk, and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes. No need to time it, just pop it in the fridge until you're ready to add it to the mix.
Remove half a stick of unsalted butter [only 4 tablespoons worth] from your fridge and slice. Slicing is optional, but will help the butter melt faster and more evenly. Add the butter to a small saucepan on medium-low heat and whisk occasionally, keeping an eye on the pot to prevent burning. A few minutes later, once the butter fully melts, it will start to froth and bubble at the top. Keep whisking repeatedly at this point, as the butter takes on a caramel brown-sugar smell. You'll start to notice tiny brown flecks at the bottom of your pan. Whisking those little specks will give the butter a golden-brown hue and signal when it's time to remove the butter from heat. Pour into clean bowl to prevent further cooking and set aside to cool to room temperature.
Wait! Don't toss the pot in the sink yet!
Leave the burner on medium-low heat, and add the banana, honey and coconut oil and applesauce to the pot you browned the butter in, scraping up any leftover golden flakes of deliciousness into the banana for added flavor. Just a few minutes stove top is all it will need, sauteing the banana a bit just further develops the sweetness and flavor. Once you're ready, pull from heat and add to a large mixing bowl to cool.
You can purchase oats pre-ground into flour, but its ridiculously easy to make your own by pulsing plain rolled oats in a food processor until they're fluffy and powdery. They're delicious sprinkled into baked goods and veggie burgers too!
Mix dry ingredients and whisk to distribute ingredients evenly.
Add your browned butter, lemon juice, and flax egg to the banana mixture and stir.
Sift in your dry ingredients [sometimes the oats try to hang out in the sifter, just pour them in slowly if that happens] while stirring the two together with a fork until just moistened.
Add your chopped walnuts, fold in, and pour into a 9x5 or 8x4 loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 325 F for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Mine is typically done around 50 minutes but ovens are testy little appliances and times may vary just a smidge <3
Allow to cool before digging in to risk burning your face. Though I happen to lack self restraint in that department! Must... have... banana bread!
Notes
Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!