Vegan Banana Bread With Chocolate and Miso

Bread

Step 1

Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Line a 9x5" loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving 3" overhang on long sides. Mash3 large very ripe bananasin a medium bowl with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth (you should have about 1½ cups). Add¾ cup (packed; 150 g) light brown sugar,⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil,¼ cup unsweetened applesauce,3 Tbsp. white miso, and1 tsp. vanilla extractand whisk until combined and smooth.

Step 2

Whisk1½ cups (188 g) all-purpose flour, sifted,½ tsp. baking soda, sifted, and½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher saltin a large bowl to combine. Scrape banana mixture into dry ingredients and mix with a rubber spatula just until incorporated. Fold in½ cup coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao), scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth surface.

Step 3

Bake bread until top is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 55–65 minutes (start checking at 50 minutes). Transfer pan to a wire rack and let bread cool in pan.

Do ahead:Bread can be baked 2 days ahead. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature. Reheat in a 350° oven 5 minutes before glazing and serving if desired.

Glaze and assembly

Step 4

While the bread is cooling, combine½ cup (packed; 100 g) light brown sugar,¼ cup oat, almond, or coconut milk, and½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher saltin a cold small saucepan, spreading evenly across bottom. Place pan over medium heat and cook, undisturbed, until mixture begins to darken and turn caramel in color and large bubbles form across the surface, about 3 minutes. Mix with a spoon to incorporate and reduce heat to medium-low (you should see smaller bubbles). Add1 Tbsp. unsalted butter or plant butter(if using) and cook, stirring occasionally with a heatproof rubber spatula, until caramel is thickened (or an instant-read thermometer registers 235° if you are not using butter), 5–7 minutes. Remove glaze from heat.

Step 5

Turn banana bread out onto rack, then transfer to a platter. Pour glaze over bread and spread evenly across top. Let cool 5 minutes before slicing.

Editor's Note:Head this way for more of ourbest banana recipes→