This banana nut bread is the easy baking project that uses up those overripe bananas sitting on your counter. Mashed bananas, walnuts, and simple pantry ingredients bake into this moist loaf with crispy edges. Takes about an hour total. I make banana nut bread whenever I need a recipe for banana nut bread that actually tastes homemade without complicated techniques.
Why You'll Love This Banana Nut Bread Recipe
Real talk, this banana nut bread recipe is one of the most foolproof baked goods I've made and my family fights over the end pieces every time.
What Actually Works: This banana nut bread recipe mashes overripe bananas with melted butter, sugar, and eggs, then folds in flour, baking soda, and chopped walnuts before baking until golden and moist. Simple ingredients, about an hour from start to finish. Tastes like a homemade banana bread with the perfect banana walnut bread texture that's tender inside with crunchy nuts throughout.
My kids who normally refuse breakfast ask for slices of this banana nut bread every morning. It looks impressive enough for brunch gatherings but is so simple that even baking beginners get perfect results on their first try. People always assume there's some secret ingredient involved when really it's just an easy banana nut bread recipe with proper technique.
The thing that changed everything: Understanding that you need very ripe bananas and not to overmix the batter for banana nut bread. My first attempt I used barely yellow bananas because I didn't want to wait and beat the batter for 5 minutes because I thought more mixing meant fluffier bread. The loaf came out dense and gummy with barely any banana flavor and tough rubbery texture. Some parts were dry and crumbly while the center stayed raw and sticky.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Banana Nut Bread Recipe
- What You'll Need for Banana Nut Bread
- How to Make Banana Nut Bread
- Top Tip
- Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
- Storage and Reuse Instructions
- What to Serve With Banana Nut Bread
- My Banana Nut Bread Journey
- FAQ
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Banana Nut Bread
- Related
- Pairing
What You'll Need for Banana Nut Bread
Basic ingredients you probably already have. This is the easiest nut bread recipe you'll make this month.
For the Banana Nut Bread
- Overripe bananas
- All purpose flour
- Granulated sugar
- Melted butter
- Eggs
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Chopped walnuts
- Brown sugar
Optional Add-Ins
- Chocolate chips
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Pecans instead of walnuts
- Greek yogurt
- Sour cream
Exact measurements in the Recipe card.
How to Make Banana Nut Bread
This banana nut bread recipe easy version comes together in about 15 minutes of hands-on time. The technique is simple but makes all the difference.
Step 1: Prep and Mash Bananas
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray. Peel overripe bananas with lots of brown spots and mash them with a fork in a large bowl until mostly smooth with some small chunks remaining. The bananas for easy banana bread recipe should be so ripe they're almost black for maximum sweetness and moisture.
Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients
Add melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas, stirring with a wooden spoon until well combined. The mixture for healthy recipe for banana nut bread should look wet and slightly lumpy with banana pieces visible throughout. Don't worry about making it perfectly smooth because those banana chunks add moisture to the finished loaf.
Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Pour the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir gently with a wooden spoon just until no dry flour streaks remain. The batter for banana nut bread recipe easy style should look thick and lumpy, not smooth like cake batter. Stop mixing as soon as you don't see white flour anymore because overmixing makes tough dense bread.
Step 4: Fold in Walnuts
Add chopped walnuts to the batter and fold them in gently with a spatula, distributing the nuts throughout without overmixing. The walnuts for moist banana nut bread add crunch and nutty flavor that contrasts perfectly with the soft sweet banana bread. Reserve a few walnut pieces to sprinkle on top before baking for a pretty presentation.
Step 5: Bake Until Golden
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly, then sprinkle reserved walnuts on top. Bake at 350°F for 55 to 65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, not wet batter. The top of your homemade banana nut bread should be deep golden brown with cracks running down the middle. Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
The banana nut bread will smell amazing and have that perfect moist crumb everyone wants. Slice thick pieces and serve warm with butter for the ultimate treat.
Top Tip
Use very ripe bananas and don't overmix for perfect banana nut bread:
- Those very ripe bananas are what makes best banana bread recipe moist versions actually work
- Made this mistake four times using yellow bananas with no spots
- The bread tasted bland with barely any banana flavor
- The texture was dense and gummy instead of moist and tender
- Started waiting until bananas were covered in brown spots and almost black
- Mixed the batter just until combined without beating it smooth
- Suddenly got super moist banana bread recipe results every time
- The bread was tender and flavorful with the right amount of banana taste
Ingredient Substitutions & Variations
The base banana nut bread is perfect but you can customize for different flavors.
Banana Nut Bread With Chocolate Chips
Fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips along with the walnuts for banana nut bread with chocolate chips that tastes like dessert. The chocolate melts slightly during baking and creates pockets of gooey sweetness throughout the loaf.
Healthier Version
Replace half the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour and use coconut oil instead of butter for banana nut bread healthy style. Add ground flaxseed and reduce the sugar by a quarter cup for a more nutritious loaf that still tastes amazing.
Extra Moist Banana Bread
Add half cup of sour cream or Greek yogurt to the wet ingredients for extra moist banana bread that stays soft for days. The dairy adds richness and keeps the crumb incredibly tender even after storing.
Storage and Reuse Instructions
Yeah, banana nut bread keeps great actually.
Room Temperature: Wrap cooled banana nut bread tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store at room temperature for up to 4 days. The bread stays moist and delicious without refrigeration, though the walnuts may soften slightly over time.
Refrigerator: Store wrapped banana nut bread in the fridge for up to 1 week if your kitchen is very warm. Let slices come to room temperature or warm them briefly in the microwave for 15 seconds before eating.
Freezing: This best ever banana bread freezes perfectly for up to 3 months. Wrap the completely cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze. Thaw overnight at room temperature or slice frozen and toast individual pieces.
Serving: Serve this homemade banana bread at room temperature or slightly warm. Toast slices and spread with butter, cream cheese, or peanut butter for an extra special breakfast or snack.
What to Serve With Banana Nut Bread
This easy banana nut bread recipe is perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.
Breakfast Spread
Serve with hot coffee, fresh fruit salad, and scrambled eggs for a complete weekend brunch. The sweet bread balances savory breakfast items and makes quick banana bread mornings feel special.
Snack Time
Pair slices with a glass of cold milk, hot tea, or fresh orange juice. Spread with cream cheese, almond butter, or Nutella for an afternoon snack that satisfies sweet cravings.
Dessert Option
Top warm slices with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce for a simple dessert. The contrast between cold ice cream and warm banana walnut bread creates an amazing treat everyone loves.
My Banana Nut Bread Journey
First time I made banana nut bread I used firm yellow bananas at 375°F because I didn't have ripe ones and thought higher heat would compensate. The bread browned too fast on the outside while staying raw in the middle. Had to keep baking it and the edges burned black while the center was still gummy. My husband politely suggested buying banana bread from the store instead.
Tried again using bananas that were completely covered in brown spots at 350°F like the recipe said. Suddenly the banana bread recipe easy moist style worked perfectly with golden edges and tender crumb. My daughter who hates most baked goods asked for seconds.
Then I mixed the batter with an electric mixer for 3 minutes because I thought smooth batter meant better bread. The loaf came out dense and tough like a brick with no rise. Started mixing by hand just until combined and got fluffy moist banana nut bread that sliced beautifully.
Now I make this banana nut bread recipe twice a week because I know the tricks: use very ripe bananas, don't overmix, right temperature, and be patient with cooling time.
Similar Easy Baking Recipes Worth Making
Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake: Buttery cake with cinnamon sugar ribbons baked into tender crumb that's perfect for weekend brunches or afternoon coffee breaks.
Blueberry Muffins: Fluffy muffins packed with fresh blueberries and topped with crumbly streusel for easy breakfast treats everyone devours.
Zucchini Bread: Moist spiced bread with shredded zucchini and walnuts that tastes like dessert but sneaks in vegetables for a healthier sweet treat.
These ripe banana recipes alternatives all use similar simple techniques and deliver that same satisfying homemade baking feeling as banana nut bread.
FAQ
What is the secret to moist banana nut bread?
The secret to moist banana nut bread is using very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots and not overbaking the loaf. The ripe bananas for banana nut bread recipe contain more natural sugars and moisture than firm yellow ones. Don't overmix the batter and pull the bread from the oven when a toothpick has moist crumbs, not when it's completely clean.
What is the number one mistake made when making banana bread?
The biggest mistake with banana nut bread recipe easy versions is overmixing the batter after adding the flour. Mixing too much develops gluten which makes the bread tough and dense instead of tender. Stir just until no dry flour remains and accept that the batter will look lumpy for best banana bread recipe moist results.
What are the ingredients for banana nut bread?
The main ingredients for banana nut bread are overripe bananas, all purpose flour, sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda, salt, vanilla extract, and chopped walnuts. Some easy banana nut bread recipe versions add brown sugar, cinnamon, or sour cream for extra moisture and flavor.
What is the secret to making good banana bread?
The secret to good banana bread is using bananas that are almost black with tons of brown spots for maximum flavor and moisture. Let the bread cool completely before slicing so it sets properly, and don't open the oven door during the first 50 minutes of baking. These techniques make super moist banana nut bread recipe versions turn out perfect every time.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've nailed this banana nut bread recipe, try my American Goulash Recipe for an easy one-pot dinner with ground beef and pasta. My Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe makes tender peppers filled with savory beef and rice. And my Buffalo Chicken Wraps come together in 20 minutes with spicy chicken everyone requests constantly.
Banana Nut Bread
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, making sure to coat the bottom and sides well.
- Peel overripe bananas with lots of brown spots and mash them with a fork in a large bowl until mostly smooth with some small chunks remaining.
- Add melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas, stirring with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed with no lumps.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the banana mixture and stir gently with a wooden spoon just until no dry flour streaks remain, being careful not to overmix.
- Add chopped walnuts to the batter and fold them in gently with a spatula, distributing the nuts throughout without overmixing the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly, then sprinkle reserved walnuts on top for decoration.
- Bake at 350°F for 55 to 65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, not wet batter.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing with a serrated knife.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with banana nut bread:
Leave a Reply