Back-to-school Blueberry Banana Bread Recipe

Get the school year off to a smart start with this brain-boosting blueberry banana bread

Ingredients

• 1½ cups (225 g) B.C. blueberries, fresh or frozen-divided (do not thaw if using frozen)
• 1½ cups (195 g) all-purpose unbleached flour
• 2 tsp (10 ml) baking powder
• 1 tsp (5 ml) baking soda
• 1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
• ½ cup (115 g) salted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
• 1 large (50 g) egg
• 1½ cups (250 g) ripe banana, mashed
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) yogurt or sour cream
• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract

Blueberry Streusel Topping

• ¼ cup (35 g) pecans, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) coarse, raw sugar
• 2 tsp (10 ml) all-purpose unbleached flour
• ½ tsp (2.5 ml) cinnamon
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) salted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C with rack positioned in the centre. Grease a 9” x 5” loaf pan.
2. In a small bowl, toss 1 tsp of flour with the blueberries and set aside. Do not thaw if using frozen.
3. Prepare the streusel topping by combining the pecans, sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a fork until you have a crumbly mixture. Gently fold in half the blueberries and refrigerate.
4. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and set aside.
5. In another large bowl, using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg. Mix in the bananas, yogurt and vanilla.
6. Fold the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined. Fold in the other half the blueberries and pour into the prepared loaf pan. Top with the blueberry streusel.
7. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes until toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
8. Leave in the pan for 15 minutes before inverting on a wire rack to cool.

Yields 1 loaf