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Banana Nut Bread Recipe

Posted by: Kate / Breads, Quick Bread / Posted: / Last updated:

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Moist banana nut bread recipe makes delicious banana bread! Add nuts, chocolate chips, or other mix-ins for the perfect loaf of banana bread!

Half buttered slice of banana bread on a marble cutting board

I love coming up with recipes that put a twist on classic foods. It's fun to give an old recipe a new spin.

There are times, though, when nothing beat a classic. This banana nut bread recipe is just that sort of classic recipe.

It's a moist banana recipe that lets the banana flavor really shine. I like my banana bread to be just a little on the cakey side (rather than overly moist and gummy), and this one is.

It's a great way to use up those extra overripe bananas! I made two loaves of this bread just this past week, and my two year-old and five year-old both love it as much as I do.

This banana nut bread recipe is also really simple. I mix it up (by hand) while the oven is preheating.

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How to make moist banana bread

Quick breads like zucchini bread, pumpkin bread, and banana bread should be moist without being greasy.

This banana bread uses a combination of melted butter, mashed ripe bananas, and more brown sugar than granulated sugar for plenty of moisture in the bread.

Melted butter and bananas in a bowl for banana bread

In a large bowl, whisk the mashed banana and melted butter together until well-combined. Whisk in the sugars until well-combined.

Banana bread batter in a mixing bowl

Add the egg and vanilla and whisk in until combined. Whisk in the dry ingredients just until combined.

Don't overmix. Overmixing will give you a dense or heavy loaf.

Whisk in the nuts just until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Sprinkle the remaining nuts on top. Bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Slice of buttered banana nut bread on a wooden cutting board

How to store 

I store it, covered, at room temperature. You can also cover and refrigerate banana bread.

Also, if you can wait, I find that the banana flavor is even stronger on the second day.

Slice of Banana Nut Bread next to knife with butter on it

Tips 

  • Banana: It's important to use very ripe bananas. I like to use bananas that are equal parts brown spots and yellow.
  • Butter: This recipe uses melted butter. The butter shouldn't be hot and sizzling. I melt it about 80% of the way and then whisk it to let it finish melted.
  • Flour: It's important to properly measure flour to avoid heavy or doughy banana bread. The proper way to measure flour is to stir it to break it up. Then lightly spoon it into a measuring cup and level it off.
  • Nuts: The nuts are optional. If you decide to sprinkle them on top, make sure you chop them finely so that the weight doesn't keep the loaf from rising.
  • Mixing: I highly recommend mixing banana bread by hand. It's easy and it helps to avoid overmixing, which can give you a dense or heavy loaf.
  • Baking: Since banana bread has a fair amount of sugar, it can easily overbrown. I check the bread part-way through the baking time to check to see whether it's browning too quickly. If it is, I tent a piece of aluminum foil over the top.

Half a slice of buttered Banana Nut Bread on a wooden cutting board

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Banana Nut Bread Recipe

Moist banana nut bread recipe. Check out the video and tips just above the recipe! 
Author:I Heart Eating
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings:12 servings
Course: bread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana bread, banana bread recipe, banana nut bread
Half buttered slice of banana bread on a marble cutting board
Print Rate Pin
4.92 from 91 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup mashed banana1
  • 1/3 cup butter (melted2)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (properly measured³)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2-2/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (plus extra for sprinkling on top4)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk mashed banana and melted butter together until well-combined.
  • Whisk in sugars until incorporated.
  • Add egg and vanilla, and whisk until well-combined.
  • Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until combined.
  • Add nuts, and whisk until just incorporated.
  • Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, and sprinkle with additional nuts.
  • Bake for 40-60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. I check the bread around 35 minutes and tent with foil if it is browning too quickly.
  • Let cool in pan for a 5-10 minutes.
  • Remove bread to wire cooling rack, and let cool completely before slicing.

Video

Notes

  1. About 2 very ripe bananas, peeled
  2. The butter should just barely be melted. I melt it about 80% of the way and then whisk it until its completely melted. 
  3. To properly measure the flour, stir it to break it up. Then lightly spoon it into the measuring up and level it off. 
  4. Be sure to finely chop the nuts if sprinkling them on top. If nuts aren't finely chopped, the weight can keep the bread from rising properly.
  5. Nutrition facts are estimates.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 207kcal (10%)Carbohydrates: 30g (10%)Protein: 2g (4%)Fat: 8g (12%)Saturated Fat: 3g (15%)Cholesterol: 27mg (9%)Sodium: 193mg (8%)Potassium: 119mg (3%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 15g (17%)Vitamin A: 190IU (4%)Vitamin C: 1.7mg (2%)Calcium: 18mg (2%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
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Originally published 8/22/17. Last updated 10/16/19.

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  1. Rosa Maria Bonales says

    The truth is that I did not like banana bread, I had tried some because “I had to”, but this week trying to use everything I have at home so I would not have to go out and buy things, I looked for a way to use the 3 bananas I had left… I changed nuts for cranberries, and used oats and almonds flour. I really, really liked it, I baked another one today… :) thanks you made my afternoons happy this week, may God bless and keep you and your family. greetings from Mexico City

    Reply

  2. Janette says

    5 stars
    Thank you so much for your recipe. I look through many recipes but yours caught my eye. With this lockdown from coronavirus I’ve been cooking and making new recipes and I have to tell you the banana nut bread came out delicious. Thanks again.

    Reply

  3. Lynn S. says

    5 stars
    This bread is perfect! Moist, but not wet like other recipes I’ve tried. Added bonus, you will have all the ingredients on hand. I added chocolate chips to the batter, and cinnamon/sugar to the top before baking. This is my new go-to banana bread recipe…it was exactly what I was looking for!

    Reply

    • Kate says

      That’s so good to hear! That wet texture was exactly what I was trying to avoid with this recipe. Thanks so much for commenting! =)

      Reply

  4. Lois Chadwell Cruz says

    5 stars
    I had 2 overripe bananas left and searched for a recipe that would work with that since I’m currently isolating myself. I am so glad I came across yours! It is absolutely delicious–moist, banana-y, and with a lovely crust. So good with butter! I only had dark brown sugar, but it worked great in the recipe.

    Reply
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