Bacon Infused Banana Bread

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Bacon Infused Banana Bread combines savory bacon grease with sweet, ripe bananas, resulting in unique, indulgent banana bread.

bacon-infused banana bread with sugar on top.

Bacon Banana Bread

Take classic banana bread to a whole new level of deliciousness with Bacon Infused Banana Bread. A quick bread that combines an irresistible combination of savory bacon and sweet, ripe bananas.

I love the, smoky aroma of bacon wafting through the kitchen. And I always save my bacon grease for recipes like my Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies.

That cookie recipe got me to thinking... what other recipes could be elevated with bacon grease? So I took my Mini Banana Bread recipe and tweaked it a bit by adding bacon grease in place of the butter and stirred in some caramel chips (caramel bits are divine here, too).

Don't fret if you don't have bacon grease on hand; you can easily collect it from your next bacon-cooking session and let it cool to room temperature. Trust me, it's worth the wait.

bacon-infused banana bread in a loaf pan.

Ingredients for Bacon Grease Banana Bread

Bananas, Mashed--Overripe is best for banana bread. If they are spotted, soft, black--GREAT! This is the perfect banana bread banana.
Granulated Sugar--makes the world go around.
Bacon Grease, room temperature--replaces the butter to bring rich and smoky bacon flavor.
Eggs--Large eggs are typical for baking recipes.
All Purpose Flour--Provides the body of the batter.
Baking Soda--Makes the bread rise. Check the box to be sure it's fresh. If it's expired, invest in a new box.
Kosher Salt--balances out and enhances the overall flavor.
Vanilla Extract--brings a deeper flavor to the bread.
Pecans, chopped--I love pecans and English walnuts. If you don't like them, leave them out. It's your bread.
Caramel Chips or Caramel Bits are my favorite stir-ins, but peanut butter chips or chocolate chips would be good, too.
Raw Sugar--sprinkled on top creates a delicious, crunchy topping.
Cooked Bacon, chopped--optional stir-in or topping.

ingredients for bacon-infused banana bread.

Instructions for Making Bacon Infused Banana Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray a small loaf pan with cooking spray or line the pan with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl stir together room-temperature bacon grease and sugar. Add in egg and mashed bananas.

mixing banana, sugar, and bacon grease for bacon-infused banana bread.

Into the bacon grease mixture, stir in the dry ingredients including flour, baking soda, and salt. Only stir until the flour is mostly incorporated.

adding eggs and flour to the mixture in a mixing bowl.

Gently fold in pecans. Do not over-stir.
Pour batter into a prepared loaf pan.

adding pecans and caramel chips to the batter.

Sprinkle top with raw sugar.
Bake for 25-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool completely in the pan.

Testing Banana Bread for Doneness

To test bread for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, your Bacon Infused Banana Bread is ready to be devoured! Allow it to cool slightly before slicing into thick slices.

Serving Bacon Infused Banana Bread

Serve warm banana bread with a dollop of butter or cream cheese for an extra touch of richness.

Whether enjoyed as a comforting breakfast treat, a satisfying afternoon snack, or a delightful dessert, our Smoky Bacon Banana Bread is sure to become a new household favorite.

For an extra layer of indulgence, consider adding chopped cooked bacon on top. Because let's be honest, everything's better with bacon, right?

Top Tips for Making Banana Bread

Less is more. Really--Do NOT overstir. I know stirring is so fun! But NOT when making quick breads.

Stir the butter, sugar, eggs, and bananas until well combined. Then the rest is to barely be stirred. Like just enough so that the flour is barely stirred in. When in doubt. 🛑 Stop stirring. Practice self-control here.

Mix this recipe by hand. NO MIXERS! Using a mixer makes it difficult to tell when your dough is just incorporated. And I promise it will be over stirred and tough.

Cut with a serrated knife 🔪 for the cleanest cut.

What to do with Bacon Grease

You can strain your bacon grease from cooked bacon in a jar to use later. Some people find it best to pour the grease through a fine strainer in a heat proof container, such as a Mason jar.
My sweet baby angel daughter bought me a grease can for Mother's Day this year and I sure love it! I wonder how I ever lived without it! Go ahead and snag one for you (or your momma).

HOW TO STORE BACON GREASE

According to our friends at Southern Living: To safely store bacon grease, you must first get rid of any small bits of bacon that are left behind:

Place a coffee filter or cheesecloth over the mouth of a glass container, like a Mason jar, or a container made for bacon drippings. Press the filter down so that it fits snugly inside the mouth of the jar.
Slowly pour the warm (not hot!) bacon grease into the jar—don't rush this step. (It's easier to do this if you transfer the drippings from the skillet into a glass measuring cup.) The coffee filter will trap whatever is left behind in the grease, leaving it nice and clear. You can also use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth if you don't have coffee filters on hand.
Removing the bacon bits will also help prevent the grease from going rancid and it's best to store it in the fridge.

FAQ

Is it safe to save bacon grease?

Yes! Straining the small bacon pieces out of the bacon fat will help it last longer and keep it from going rancid.

What can I do with saved bacon grease?

Well, of course, you can make this banana bread or Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies, but bacon drippings are also great for flavoring veggies such as green beans, frying eggs, making a vinaigrette, making gravy, flavoring cornbread, or in Instant Pot Ham and Beans.

Why use bacon grease in Banana Bread?

1. For the love of bacon, it's fun.
2. It's a great way to use bacon grease when I have an abundance.
3. It's cost-effective as bacon grease is considered a by-product by some.
4. These cookies are delicious!

Can I buy bacon grease?

The answer is yes. You can order it online, but my ancestors would think I had done lost my mind. However, it's OK if you order it.

Storing Smoky Bacon Banana Bread

Store in the pan with a loose covering to keep the top crunchy and the bottom soft.

Healthy Banana Bread

Lower Fat and Calories by substituting applesauce for half of the bacon grease: ⅛ cup applesauce + ⅛ cup bacon grease

Variations

Nut-Free Bacon Infused Banana Bread - Leave out nuts altogether if you have a nut allergy or dislike.

World's Best Banana Bread - Leave out chips and use butter instead of bacon grease and it will bake up a plain ol banana bread that is delicious all on its own.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread - I love to sneak in some chocolate chips in my banana bread.

Dried Fruit in Banana Bread - add any type of dried fruit you enjoy: dried blueberries, cranberries, pineapple, apple, etc.

Berry Bread Recipe - Add blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a delicious Berry Banana Bread.

Banana Bread Recipe Without Loaf Pan

No loaf pan? Use a 9x9 pan or muffin pan. Cooking times will need adjusted.

Pan selection for Bacon Infused Banana Bread

I like a loaf of bread as much as the next person but find that dense doughs, like Blueberry Banana Bread, bake nicely when they have a little more room.

Try baking in a 9x9 pan or a Bundt Pan.

Looking for other recipes to try? Try Bacon Grease Chocolate Chip Cookies or one of these other bacon treats!

Pairing

So many recipes to try and so few days! Give one of these a try and let us know what you think.

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

Lastly, if you made a Bacon Infused Banana Bread following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a rating!

I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.

And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag me on Instagram! Seeing your photos is my favorite thing!

FOOD SAFETY

Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
Never leave cooking food unattended
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.