Banana Nut Bread Recipe

Name: Banana Nut Bread Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 12 servings
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)

Posted by: Kate / Breads, Quick Bread / Posted: 10/16/19 / Last updated: 01/07/20

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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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

More Banana Recipes!

If you’ve tried this banana nut bread recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

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