Ukrainian banana yeast bread babka (eggless brioche)

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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.
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