Description
This banana nut bread is a rich, moist, and flavorful quick bread packed with sweet ripe bananas and crunchy toasted walnuts. It’s easy to make, deeply satisfying, and perfect for breakfast, snacking, or dessert. You don’t need a mixer or fancy ingredients—just one bowl and a handful of pantry staples. Whether you enjoy it fresh out of the oven or a day later with a pat of butter, this recipe delivers a reliably tender and aromatic loaf every single time. The toasted nuts give texture and balance to the soft crumb, while the bananas naturally sweeten and moisten the bread.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
- Optional: ½ cup chocolate chips or dried fruit
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
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In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until smooth.
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Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
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In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
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Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
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Fold in toasted nuts and any optional add-ins.
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Pour batter into prepared pan. Optionally top with sliced banana.
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Bake for 55–65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
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Cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Slice and serve or store as instructed.
Notes
Always use very ripe bananas—they make all the difference.
For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut oil for butter.
Toast nuts before adding to deepen flavor and improve crunch.
You can make this recipe into muffins—just reduce baking time to 18–22 minutes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 loaf (10 -12 slices)
- Calories: 210