If you’ve got a bunch of overripe bananas sitting on your kitchen counter, this Banana Nut Bread is the best way to use them up.
This quick bread is packed with banana flavor, a touch of cinnamon, and a nutty crunch from walnuts. It’s a family favorite around here.
It's an easy banana bread recipe that's virtually foolproof, and it doesn't require any fancy equipment. Just a mixing bowl and a rubber spatula are needed to combine all the ingredients into a batter that bakes into two moist and tasty loaves.
This bread is perfect for breakfast on the go, an after-school snack, or a sweet treat after a meal.
If my family is looking for a nut-free treat, I make my Banana Bread with Sour Cream. My Banana Bread with Pancake Mix is a great little loaf made with a shortcut. And my Pumpkin Banana Bread is a great option with a seasonal flair.
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Why You’ll Love This Banana Nut Bread
- SO moist! - Thanks to mashed banana and vegetable oil, this bread is tender and gets even better on day two!
- Makes two loaves - Enjoy one now and wrap and freeze one for later. It also makes a great item for holiday gift baskets.
- Nutty flavor - Chopped walnuts add a little crunch to every slice.
- Quick bread- Ready in just over an hour with no yeast, no rise time, resulting in less time in the kitchen.
Natalie’s Tips
- Measuring Mashed Banana. Depending on the size of the banana, one will equal about half a cup mashed. So this recipe will require 3-4 bananas. I mash my bananas with a fork for this recipe, leaving some larger chunks. I use a liquid measuring cup to make sure I have 2 cups.
- Frozen bananas work great. If you’ve stashed bananas in the freezer, you can use them right here. See my post on how to use frozen bananas in bread.
- Need ripe bananas fast? Pop them in the oven to speed up the process. See my post on how to ripen bananas in the oven. You will want to cool them before proceeding with the recipe.
- Keep Slices From Sticking Together When Frozen. I picked up this clever tip from Cook’s Illustrated: Place parchment paper between slices of cooled bread before freezing. It makes it easy to pull out just one slice at a time.
Substitutions and Variations
- Choose a different nut - I chose walnuts, but pecans or chopped or sliced almonds would also be delicious.
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread - Add chocolate chips to the batter along with the walnuts for an extra treat. Milk or dark chocolate would be super tasty. I recommend adding about half a cup of chips and reducing the chopped nuts to a total of half a cup. Save a few chocolate chips to sprinkle on top of the loaf.
Ingredients
*For specific ingredient amounts, please scroll down to the recipe card.
How to Make Banana Nut Bread
Step 1. Prepare pans. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two 9"x5" loaf pans with parchment paper in a sling fashion, then spray with cooking spray.
Step 2. Mix dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt, and cinnamon.
Step 3. Add wet ingredients. Stir in the mashed banana, vegetable oil, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract with a rubber spatula until combined.
Step 4. Add nuts. Stir in half of the chopped walnuts.
Step 5. Bake. Pour batter into each prepared loaf pan, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts evenly over the top of the loaves. Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean and the tops of the loaves are golden brown.
Step 6. Cool. Let the loaves cool in the pans about 10 minutes before removing and transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
If your bananas are on the larger side, use three instead of four. Too much fruit can make the bread dense. See my tips in the blog post about measuring mashed banana.
Nope! This is an easy banana bread recipe that can be mixed by hand with just a large bowl and a rubber spatula. No fancy equipment required.
Banana Nut Bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups mashed banana about 4 medium-sized bananas
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup walnuts chopped and divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two 9"x5" loaf pans with parchment paper in a sling fashion, then spray with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt, and cinnamon.3 cups all purpose flour, 1 ½ cups granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Stir in the mashed banana, vegetable oil, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract with a rubber spatula until combined.2 cups mashed banana, 1 cup vegetable oil, 3 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Stir in half of the chopped walnuts.1 cup walnuts
- Pour batter into each prepared loaf pan, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining walnuts on top of the loaves, dividing equally. Bake 55–65 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean and the tops of the loaves are golden brown.
- Let the loaves cool in the pans about 10 minutes before removing and transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
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