Boozy Toffee Banana Bread

I recently had a few very over-ripe bananas, but I didn't want to make banana bread.  I scoured the internet for ideas, looking for something I've never made before.  However, I didn't come across anything I found appealing.

So back to banana bread I thought.  Then my mind started going and I tried to think of something different I could do with banana bread.  What's good with bananas?  Chocolate...but I make banana bread or muffins with chocolate chips in it all the time.  I started looking through my baking cabinet and came across toffee bits.  Mmmm, now that sounded yummy....banana and toffee!  That's how I came up with this recipe, and boy was it delicious!  Perfect combination.  The only thing I didn't like was that the toffee chips seemed to prevent the bread from "rising" on top.  But honestly, even though it's not visually as appealing, it didn't matter because the taste was amazing.  This is a nice combination of flavors...and hey, it's something different!

Boozy Toffee Banana Bread

1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder 

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 nutmeg

dash of ground ginger
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 tbsp bourbon

1 egg
3 over ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup toffee bits

Preheat oven to 325. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray (or 3 mini loaf pans).

Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar. Mix in the egg and bourbon, then add the bananas. Add dry ingredients and buttermilk, alternating, and stirring until just combined. Pour into the loaf pan, then sprinkle the toffee bits on top.  Bake for one hour or until toothpick comes out clean (reduce cooking time to about 45 minutes if using mini loaf pans).

*Note:  You don't need to worry about the bread tasting like it has alcohol in it - it will burn off while cooking.  If you prefer to leave it out, just add 1 tsp vanilla instead.