Banana Nut Bread – Moist, Flavorful, and Easy to Make!
Few things are as comforting as a warm slice of banana nut bread fresh out of the oven. This recipe is made with basic baking ingredients, requires simple and quick prep, and delivers a loaf that is packed with intense banana flavor, ultra-moist, and perfectly dense. Whether you enjoy it for breakfast, a midday snack, or dessert, this versatile base recipe is a must-try!
There is nothing quite like banana bread, and we make it a lot at our house, as well as Super Simple Zucchini Bread and even Lemon Quick Bread! We love a good quick bread that can be a breakfast, treat, or snack. And this simple recipe for banana nut bread is a real winner, with deep flavors, rich notes of sweetness, and nuttiness. It is sure to be a hit at your house.
Perks of Banana Nut Bread & Why You Should Make It
- Deliciously Moist & Flavorful – The natural sweetness of ripe bananas combined with crunchy nuts creates the perfect balance of texture and taste.
- Great Way to Use Overripe Bananas – Instead of tossing those brown bananas, transform them into something delicious!
- Easy to Make – No fancy equipment or complicated steps—just mix, bake, and enjoy.
- Customizable – Add chocolate chips, cinnamon, or even a swirl of peanut butter to make it your own.
- Perfect for Any Time of Day – Enjoy it for breakfast, as a snack, or even as a dessert.
- Pairs Well with Coffee or Tea – A warm slice with a cup of coffee or tea is pure comfort.
- Freezer-Friendly – Bake a loaf, slice it up, and freeze it for an easy grab-and-go treat.
- Nutrient-Packed – Bananas provide potassium and fiber, while nuts add healthy fats and protein.
- Brings Cozy, Homemade Comfort – The smell of banana nut bread baking fills your kitchen with warmth and nostalgia.
- Great for Sharing – Perfect for gifting to friends, bringing to gatherings, or making with kids for a fun baking activity.
What You Need for this Banana Nut Bread Recipe
This banana nut bread comes together with pantry staples, making it an easy go-to recipe whenever you have overripe bananas on hand.
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional, but adds warmth!)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
How to Make Banana Nut Bread
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, melted butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- Combine & Fold in Nuts: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold in the chopped walnuts.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool & Enjoy: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Tips for Success
✔ Use overripe bananas – The riper, the better! They add natural sweetness and moisture. Look for brown speckled skin. As long as they don’t smell rotten, or have mold growing, you can use them.
✔ Don’t overmix – Stir until just combined to keep the bread soft and tender. Over mixing will make the bread tougher and chewier.
✔ Line the pan with parchment paper – This makes it easy to remove the bread. If you don’t use parchment, be sure to add some non-stick spray.
✔ Toast the nuts – Lightly toasting the walnuts before adding them enhances their flavor. This is not necessary, but will give a deeper, nuttier flavor.
✔ Check for doneness – Oven times may vary, so test with a toothpick around 50 minutes. And be careful not to overbake.
Storage Instructions
🔹 Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
🔹 Refrigerate: For longer freshness, keep it in the fridge for up to a week.
🔹 Freeze: Wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag; freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp or warm in the microwave.
Variations to Try
🍫 Chocolate Chip Banana Bread – Swap the nuts for chocolate chips or add both! When I add chocolate chips, I like to simple add another 1/2 cup of chips.
🥥 Coconut Banana Bread – Add 1/2 cup of shredded coconut for tropical flavor.
🍎 Apple Cinnamon Banana Bread – Mix in 1/2 cup of diced apples that are peeled and a dash of nutmeg.
🥜 Peanut Butter Swirl Banana Bread – Swirl in 1/4 cup of peanut butter before baking. This might require a longer baking time.
This banana nut bread is a classic recipe that never fails—simple to make, incredibly flavorful, and perfect any time of day. Whether you enjoy it fresh, toasted with butter, or paired with coffee, it’s always a hit! Give it a try and let me know your favorite way to enjoy it!
Banana Bread Recipes
Want other great banana bread recipes?
- Browned Butter Banana Bread
- Easy Banana Bread Muffins
- One Bowl Banana Bread
- Cream Cheese Banana Bread
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Super Simple Banana Bread
Banana Nut Bread
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon optional, but adds warmth!
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. (Glass or metal pans work, but you may need to adjust cooking time based on pan)
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, melted butter, and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract.
- Combine & Fold in Nuts: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold in the chopped walnuts.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool & Enjoy: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
✔ Don’t overmix – Stir until just combined to keep the bread soft and tender.
✔ Line the pan with parchment paper – This makes it easy to remove the bread.
✔ Toast the nuts – Lightly toasting the walnuts before adding them enhances their flavor.
✔ Check for doneness – Oven times may vary, so test with a toothpick around 50 minutes. ✔ If using glass pan, cook a little longer, check center for doneness.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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