• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

  • Search
  • Українська
  • English
  • Русский
  • Italiano
  • Home
  • Recipe index
  • SAVORY RECIPES
  • SWEET RECIPES
  • About me
  • Site Guide
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Sweet recipes / Ukrainian banana yeast bread babka (eggless brioche)

Ukrainian banana yeast bread babka (eggless brioche)

Created : September 27, 2021 - Modified : September 27, 2023

With this Ukrainian babka-inspired banana yeast bread recipe, even a beginner can easily bake a delicious eggless brioche.

Jump to recipe

Sliced banana yeast bread topped with Nutella spread.

This Ukrainian babka-inspired banana yeast bread combines the yummy taste of ripe bananas with the cozy richness of traditional yeasted bread. The result? A super soft, eggless brioche that adds a fresh twist to a timeless favorite.

I love having it for breakfast with my homemade yogurt and some fruit.

It differs from the banana bread that most people are accustomed to. Unlike the sweet quick loaf that tastes like cake, this recipe is made with yeast and requires time to rise. Bananas add sweetness and softness to the dough without overpowering the flavor. And the texture is moist, soft, and slightly dense.

What is Ukrainian babka bread?

Ukrainian babka is a type of Easter bread enjoyed not only in Ukraine but also in other Eastern European countries like Poland. This tasty sweet bread is full of flavor and is usually prepared for Easter celebrations.

While Easter Ukrainian babka is typically baked in a round shape, there are different types of babka you can enjoy year-round.

Don’t confuse Ukrainian babka bread with the Jewish variety. While both babkas are sweet, bread-like baked goods, they have distinct differences in terms of cultural origins, ingredients, shapes, and flavors.

Jewish babka is typically twisted or braided, often with a filling, resulting in a unique appearance. On the other hand, Ukrainian babka is characterized by its tall, cylindrical shape or loaf form.

Banana Yeast Bread: A Kitchen Revelation

Mixing bananas into Ukrainian babka isn’t something you’ll find in the traditional recipe; I’d call it my own unique take on a classic. Ukrainians typically go for lemon zest or vanilla.

But, you know what? I found something really interesting lately – adding bananas to sweet yeast dough can turn it into something special!

I’d never made banana yeast bread before, and it was a pleasant surprise to discover that bananas can replace eggs, resulting in an incredibly soft dough. You’ll end up with the fluffiest eggless brioche ever! It’s fascinating how much we can learn by trying new things in the kitchen!

When you sprinkle a bit of turmeric into the dough, your yeasted banana bread takes on a lovely yellow hue. The beauty of it? It won’t alter the flavor; it simply adds visual appeal. Whether you choose to include turmeric or not, this delightful loaf will still taste incredible.

You’ll be amazed by how delicious this eggless brioche is! It has the perfect balance of sweetness and delightful banana flavor. While it’s fantastic when it’s fresh, don’t discard it if it gets a bit stale. Instead, slice it and turn it into the most delicious French toast you’ve ever had! Enjoy it with a cup of tea or some freshly made homemade lemon syrup.

Useful tips

As this banana bread uses yeast, it needs time to rise. Keep this in mind before you start making it. While the recipe is straightforward, it’s important to knead the dough thoroughly. By following some helpful tips, you can craft the perfect loaf:

  • The bananas should be very ripe – those with brown spots on their peel are perfect.
  • I highly recommend using a blender for pureeing. Fork-mashing will result in an uneven puree, crucial for Ukrainian yeast bread babka.
  • You have the choice to manually mix the dough or utilize a stand mixer with a dough hook. Another alternative is to prepare the yeasted banana bread in a bread maker (opt for the basic setting, similar to what you use for regular white bread).
  • Don’t forget to cover the dough with either a kitchen towel or plastic wrap to prevent it from forming a dry crust.
  • The dough rises faster in warmer temperatures.
  • Ensure you let the loaf cool completely before slicing it (cover it with a kitchen towel as soon as it comes out of the oven). This will help the crust soften, making it much easier to cut perfect slices of bread.

By the way, you can also make little sweet buns with this recipe. Just bake them for 5 minutes less!

What else can I add to this eggless brioche?

This recipe has just the right mix of simple ingredients – nothing more, nothing less. But if you want to try some other tasty flavors, think about adding:

  • Cardamom. 1 tsp of dry ground cardamom will make the dough surprisingly flavorful.
  • Raisins or dried cranberries to enhance the texture. 4 tablespoons will be enough for this recipe.
  • Chocolate chips: Chocolate lovers will adore it.
  • Chopped nuts, such as walnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, or pistachios, depending on your preferences. Chop the nuts and add them to the banana dough at the end of kneading.
  • Poppy seeds. Add 2 tablespoons of poppy seeds, and the loaf will have an original look.

For substitutions, here are some ideas:

  • You can swap dairy milk for a plant-based alternative like almond, rice, soy, and more.
  • Consider substituting regular granulated white sugar with brown sugar to impart a subtle caramel flavor to your banana yeast bread.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup banana puree
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric powder
  • 4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour (you may need more, depending on the flour’s quality)
  • 25g (1¾ Tbsp) unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled)
  • a pinch of salt
  • vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup lukewarm water
  • 7g (1 packet or 2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
  • 5Tbsp sugar
  • grated zest of 1 lemon

How to make yeasted banana bread

1. To make banana puree, blend very ripe bananas in a blender.

Smooth banana puree made from ripe bananas.

2. Next, heat the milk and water together, then dissolve the yeast in the mixture. Allow it to rest for a few minutes until the yeast has activated and you see bubbles.

Dissolving yeast in milk and water mixture.

3. Afterward, add sugar, melted (and slightly cooled) butter, turmeric, zest, vanilla, banana puree, and salt.

Adding sugar, melted butter, turmeric, zest, vanilla, banana puree, and salt to the mixture.

4. Next, add flour. Begin with 4 cups, and if the dough is still sticky, add more until it doesn’t stick to your hands anymore.

Preparing the dough for Ukrainian babka.

5. Knead the dough and let it sit in a warm place for 2 hours. It should double in size during this time.

Kneading the dough for eggless brioche and allowing it to rise in a warm place for 2 hours until it doubles in size.

6. After two hours, punch the dough down and divide it into 3 loaves. Transfer them to the loaf pans (21cm x 11cm / 8×4 inches), or you can shape the dough into rolls. Allow it to rise for another 15-20 minutes.

Dividing banana yeast bread dough into 3 loaves or shaping it into rolls.

7. You can beat an egg yolk and brush it on top of the loaves if you like, it gives them a nice shine. Then, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and bake the yeasted banana bread for about 25-30 minutes (or 20-25 minutes for smaller sweet buns). Enjoy!

Freshly baked homemade Ukrainian banana yeast bread babka, served with chocolate spread.

Serving suggestions for Ukrainian babka

This eggless brioche is perfect on its own and can be enjoyed as is. It also pairs well with:

  • Butter: After toasting a slice, just add some butter for a simple and tasty breakfast.
  • Thick jam: Use your favorite jam; I adore it with my homemade peach jam.
  • Nutella: No need to explain – banana yeast bread and chocolate spread are always a winning combo.
  • Lemon curd: Elevate this Ukrainian babka to new heights with a zesty twist.
  • Peanut butter: A treat for true food enthusiasts.
  • Honey: Keep it simple and delightful.
  • Cream cheese: You’ll definitely savor this combination. Also, consider trying it with our homemade Labneh (just prepare it without salt).

You can also enjoy this eggless brioche with your favorite fresh fruit or a scoop of ice cream. However you decide to serve it, yeasted banana bread is sure to make everyone happy.

FAQ

How long does it stay fresh?

You can keep it fresh by storing it in an airtight container or a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Alternatively, store it in the fridge, and it should stay good for 1 week.

Can I freeze banana yeast bread?

Sure! I usually make extra banana yeast bread. We enjoy one loaf and freeze the rest. I slice it before freezing it in portions. That way, you can take out just what you need, whether it’s for thawing or heating in the oven directly. Going from cold to hot like this gives Ukrainian babka a nice crispy texture.

Have two ripe bananas and feeling adventurous? Give this Ukrainian banana yeast bread babka a try! It’s eggless, brioche-like, incredibly delicious, and bursting with flavor!

Tried this recipe? Please leave a comment with Star Ratings ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. I will really appreciate it.
Also, please Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK and PINTEREST.

yeasted banana bread

Ukrainian banana yeast bread babka

The Saporito
With this Ukrainian babka-inspired banana yeast bread recipe, even a beginner can easily bake a delicious eggless brioche.
Print Recipe Pinterest
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Resting time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Baking, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 20 slices
Calories 155 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup banana puree made with 2 big bananas
  • 1 tsp ground turmeric powder
  • 4-5 cups all – purpose flour you may need more, depending on the flour's quality
  • 25 g 1¾ Tbsp unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • a pinch of salt
  • vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup lukewarm water
  • 7 g (1packet or 2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
  • 5 Tbsp sugar
  • grated zest of 1 lemon

Instructions
 

  • To make banana puree, blend very ripe bananas in a blender.
  • Next, heat the milk and water together, then dissolve the yeast in the mixture. Allow it to rest for a few minutes until the yeast has activated and you see bubbles.
  • Afterward, add sugar, melted (and slightly cooled) butter, turmeric, zest, vanilla, banana puree, and salt.
  • Next, add flour. Begin with 4 cups, and if the dough is still sticky, add more until it doesn't stick to your hands anymore.
  • Knead the dough and let it sit in a warm place for 2 hours. It should double in size during this time.
  • After two hours, punch the dough down and divide it into 3 loaves. Transfer them to the loaf pans (21cm x 11cm / 8×4 inches), or you can shape the dough into rolls. Allow it to rise for another 15-20 minutes.
  • You can beat an egg yolk and brush it on top of the loaves if you like, it gives them a nice shine. Then, preheat the oven to 180°C(350°F) and bake the yeasted banana bread for about 25-30 minutes (or 20-25 minutes for smaller sweet buns). Enjoy!

Notes

You can keep it fresh by storing it in an airtight container or a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Alternatively, store it in the fridge, and it should stay good for 1 week.

in Baking, Bread and Pizza, sweet, Sweet recipes, Sweets, With fruit, With the yeast # bananas, brioche, eggless, sweet bread, yeast

Reader Interactions

you may also like
Rogaliki (Ukrainian scuffles) – crescent-shaped kefir cookies
Italian red wine cookies with honey
Sweetened condensed milk chocolate fudge with nuts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About me

Good morning, afternoon, evening, or maybe night (the culinary muse is a very unpredictable creature, she may be hiding somewhere ...
Read more

Follow us…

Savory recipes

lemon shrimp risotto Italian lemon shrimp risotto recipe
Ukrainian salad Ukrainian salad with egg and chives
mashed carrots Recipe for mashed carrots and potatoes
healthy corn fritters Healthy corn fritters recipe (corn cakes with cheese)
healthy meatballs Healthy meatballs recipe
Khachapuri Adjaruli (Georgian cheese-filled bread)

From Grandma’s Cookbook

Sweet recipes

A square piece of double crust lemon pie without meringue, beautifully dusted with powdered sugar and garnished with lemon zest. Old fashioned double crust lemon pie without meringue
yeasted banana bread Ukrainian banana yeast bread babka (eggless brioche)
sour cherry bars Sour cherry bars
Christmas stollen Christmas stollen cake recipe (Quarkstollen)
Ukrainian cookies Ukrainian cookies with jam
broken glass cake Broken glass cake recipe (crown Jewel dessert)

Categories

  • Appetizers (9)
  • Baking (32)
    • savory (7)
    • sweet (24)
  • Bread and Pizza (9)
  • Breakfast (8)
  • Cakes (3)
  • Canning (3)
  • Christmas (14)
  • Desserts (11)
  • Drinks (3)
  • Easter (4)
  • From Grandama's Cookbook (22)
  • Main Course (15)
  • Pasta recipes (4)
  • Rice (4)
  • Salads (6)
  • Soup (3)

Archive

Footer

  • Copyright © 2021-2025 The Saporito
  • Privacy Policy

  • All information on www.thesaporito.com is protected by copyright law. It is forbidden to copy any material from the site without the written consent of the author.

made by soulmuse
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
SAVE & ACCEPT