tahini banana bread

last updated on October 30, 2026

In a recent post in my series “teaching my 1 year-old how to cook,” I taught Emi how to make banana bread, and specifically how to make tahini banana bread! Emi did such a great job (especially at massaging her hands in the dough and eating everything in sight) and it turned out so well that I needed to share the recipe!

This banana bread is slightly nutty (from the tahini), soft, and moist. It has the perfect balance of nuttiness, cinnamon, and banana flavor. If you are a banana bread lover, this one is for you!

ingredients needed for tahini banana bread

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 bananas (about 1 1/2 cups) mashed
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup flour (230 grams)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp turbinado sugar optional
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds optional

toppings and more toppings

The toppings for this loaf (before it’s put in the oven) and the toppings added to a finished slice are what make this banana bread, imo. You don’t have to add any of these (and it will still be delicious), but this is my favorite way to do it.

toppings for the loaf (before the oven)

• tahini drizzle (in addition to the tahini in the batter)
• turbinado sugar (adds such a yummy crunch!)
• sesame seeds (for taste and looks, duh!)

toppings for the slice (post baking!)

• salted butter (and lots of it!)
• honey (or maple syrup)
• a dash of cinnamon
• flaky salt
• dollop of fresh whipped cream (v optional, but v good!)

other recipes you will love

• carrot cake cupcakes
• cinnamon oatmeal cookies
• carrot cake loaf with brown butter cream cheese frosting
• tahini chocolate chip cookies

tahini banana bread

5 from 1 vote

[category] Breakfast, Dessert

[published] May 31, 2023

[PREP] 20 minutes mins

[COOK] 40 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (113 g) butter softened
• 1 cup (215 g) brown sugar
• 3 bananas (about 1 1/2 cups) mashed
• 1/4 cup (64 g) tahini
• 1/4 cup (56 g) plain greek yogurt
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup (230 g) flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp turbinado sugar optional
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Add the butter, brown sugar, bananas, tahini, greek yogurt, eggs, and vanilla extract to a bowl. Mash the bananas into the wet ingredients and stir until combined.
3. Add the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gently mix until just combined.
4. Transfer the batter to a 9×5 inch loaf pan that is greased and lined with parchment paper.
5. Drizzle some tahini on top of the loaf and sprinkle on the turbinado sugar and sesame seeds (optional).
6. Transfer to the oven and bake for 40-55 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let it cool, slice, and enjoy! I love top each slice with salted butter, honey, and flaky salt.