Best Banana Nut Bread Recipe: Moist, Flavorful Two-Loaf Classic

The Ultimate Moist Banana Nut Bread Recipe You’ll Ever Need

Looking for a banana nut bread recipe that delivers on both flavor and texture? This incredibly moist, dense, and flavor-packed banana bread is loaded with real banana flavor and studded with crunchy walnuts in every bite. Perfect for breakfast, snacking, or even dessert, this recipe yields two generous loaves that your family will devour!

Why This Banana Nut Bread Stands Above the Rest

What makes this recipe special isn’t just the incredible moisture or perfect balance of flavors – it’s the extreme banana flavor that shines through in every slice. This recipe uses more bananas than most traditional recipes, creating that deep, rich banana taste that makes this bread truly exceptional.

The walnuts add a wonderful textural contrast and nutty flavor that complements the sweetness of the ripe bananas perfectly. Whether enjoyed warm with a pat of butter or at room temperature with your morning coffee, this banana bread delivers pure comfort in every bite.

Perfect Timing for Banana Nut Bread

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 24 servings (2 loaves)

Ingredients for the Best Banana Nut Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 5-6 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 2 cups)
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon for extra warmth

Key Ingredient Notes

Bananas: The riper your bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. Look for bananas with lots of dark spots or even completely black skins for maximum flavor.

Walnuts: Toast the walnuts for 8-10 minutes at 350°F before adding them to the batter for enhanced nutty flavor. You can also substitute pecans if you prefer.

Butter: Using room temperature butter is crucial for proper creaming with the sugar, which creates the perfect texture.

Step-by-Step Banana Nut Bread Instructions

1. Prepare your pans: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously grease and flour two 9×5-inch loaf pans to ensure easy removal after baking.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. This creates air pockets for a lighter texture.
4. Add eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Incorporate bananas: Mix in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract until well combined. The mixture may look slightly curdled, but that’s perfectly normal.
6. Combine wet and dry: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Overmixing will create a tough bread.
7. Add nuts: Fold in the chopped walnuts, saving a handful to sprinkle on top if desired.
8. Fill pans: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared loaf pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula.
9. Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
10. Cool: Allow the loaves to cool in the pans for 15-20 minutes, then remove from pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Pro Tips for Perfect Banana Nut Bread Every Time

• Banana ripeness: Wait until your bananas are very ripe with plenty of brown spots for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
• Room temperature ingredients: Let your eggs and butter come to room temperature before mixing for better incorporation and texture.
• Don’t overmix: Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined to avoid developing too much gluten, which makes bread tough.
• Check doneness carefully: Banana bread can be deceiving – the top may look done while the center is still undercooked. Use a toothpick to check the very center.
• Storage: Once completely cooled, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.

Variations to Try

This banana nut bread recipe is incredible as is, but here are some delicious variations to try:

• Chocolate chip: Add 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips along with the nuts
• Streusel topping: Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, 2 tablespoons butter and 1/4 cup chopped walnuts; sprinkle on top before baking
• Spiced: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves
• Bourbon-soaked: Soak the walnuts in 2 tablespoons of bourbon for 30 minutes before adding to the batter

Nutrition Information

Per Serving (1 slice):

• Calories: 232 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 51 mg
• Sodium: 268 mg
• Fiber: 1 g
• Sugar: 19 g

Why You’ll Love This Banana Nut Bread Recipe

There’s something incredibly satisfying about a slice of homemade banana bread, especially when it’s studded with crunchy walnuts and has that perfect moist texture. This particular banana nut bread recipe creates loaves that are substantial enough to hold up to toasting yet tender enough to melt in your mouth. Whether you’re enjoying it for breakfast, as an afternoon snack with tea, or even as a simple dessert, this banana nut bread is sure to become a family favorite!

Recipe adapted from Extreme Banana Nut Bread ‘EBNB’