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Grandmas Banana Nut Bread

Featured in Delicious Homemade Bread and Muffin Recipes.

Take bananas that are super soft, mix them with sugar, eggs, and flour. Add chopped nuts and some spices too. Spoon the mix into your loaf pan, sprinkle extra nuts on top, and bake. When it's ready, the aroma in your home will say it all. Yields two loaves—one for now, one for later.

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Updated on Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:33:29 GMT
A warm banana loaf studded with walnuts, sliced and ready to serve. Pin it
A warm banana loaf studded with walnuts, sliced and ready to serve. | chefmelt.com

Want a super moist banana bread with nuts? This family banana nut bread has been passed down for ages. Just throw everything together for 10 minutes and you'll get amazing results every time. The combo of mushy bananas and crunchy walnuts creates a thick, rich loaf that'll remind you of the ones your grandma used to make.

What Makes This Work So Well

A great banana bread with nuts should be easy and yummy - that's exactly what you've got here. Using stuff from your kitchen, this loaf turns out perfectly moist without fail. Try adding chocolate chunks or mix in some sour cream for extra softness. It's fantastic anytime - breakfast, snack or dessert - everyone will ask for seconds.

Basic Stuff You'll Need

  • Flour: Just regular all-purpose does the trick for super moist results
  • Baking Soda: Gets your bread nice and fluffy
  • Salt: A tiny bit brings out all the flavors
  • Sugar: For that perfect sweetness
  • Oil: This is why your bread stays so damp and soft
  • Eggs: They bind everything into one delicious loaf
  • Vanilla: Gives that wonderful background taste
  • Ripe Bananas: The star of the show - must be spotty!
  • Walnuts: The essential crunchy bits that make it complete

Quick How-To Guide

Get Oven Ready:
First, turn your oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, smear butter all over your loaf pans and sprinkle with flour. This helps your bread pop right out when it's done.
Combine Dry Ingredients:
Grab a big bowl and stir together your flour, baking soda, and salt. Mixing these now means your bread will rise properly and taste good all the way through.
Mix Wet Stuff:
In another bowl, beat sugar, oil, and eggs until they look creamy. Put in vanilla and sour cream, then keep stirring till everything's blended. The sour cream's your secret weapon for softness.
Smoosh Bananas:
Mash those ripe bananas but leave some small chunks for texture. Stir them into your wet mixture but don't go crazy with mixing.
Put Everything Together:
Dump your wet stuff into the dry bowl. Fold it all together with a spatula, making sure to get what's at the bottom. Stop as soon as you don't see dry flour - too much mixing makes tough bread.
Toss In Nuts:
Throw in your chopped walnuts and fold them in with just a couple stirs. Keep some nuts for sprinkling on top so it looks pretty.
Fill Pans and Cook:
Split your batter between your pans and smooth the tops. Stick them in the oven for 35-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the tops turn golden.
Let It Rest:
Leave the loaves in their pans for about 10 minutes, then flip them onto a cooling rack. After they're completely cool, wrap them up tight to keep fresh.

The Little Things That Matter

Ever wonder what makes this banana bread so good? It's all about the small stuff. From using super ripe bananas to adding just the right amount of walnuts, this isn't just any old bread. Every bite takes you back to your childhood and reminds you of the tastiest banana bread you've ever had.

Finding The Right Bananas

For super moist bread, go for bananas that are dark and spotted all over. The riper they are, the sweeter and wetter your bread will be. In a hurry? You can stick yellow bananas in the oven to ripen them faster - works perfectly when you can't wait to start baking.

Smart Baking Tricks

This bread's a breeze to make if you know a few tricks. First, really mash those bananas good. Then mix everything just enough - that's how you get that perfect texture. Whether you stick with the basic version or add sour cream, gentle mixing is your friend for amazing results.

A freshly baked loaf of nut bread topped with walnut pieces, displayed on a wire rack. Pin it
A freshly baked loaf of nut bread topped with walnut pieces, displayed on a wire rack. | chefmelt.com

Fun Ways To Change It Up

The basic version is awesome, but don't stop there! Throw in some cinnamon, drop in chocolate chips, or swap walnuts for pecans. You can tweak things to match exactly what you like. The standard version is just your starting point - now go wild and make it your own!

Keeping It Fresh

Once your bread cools down, wrap it up tight and it'll stay good on your counter for about 5 days. Want to save some for later? No problem! This bread freezes amazingly well - just wrap it carefully and pop it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Then you can grab a slice whenever the craving hits!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Prefer different nuts?

Go with whatever you like! Pecans are a great swap. You can even skip them altogether—it still turns out delicious. Mixing several types works too!

→ Only got one pan?

A bigger pan will do fine. It might take longer in the oven, though. Check that the center’s done and keep an eye on it. You could cover the top with foil if it starts browning too much.

→ Bananas too dark?

Darker bananas make sweeter bread! The more brown spots, the better. Stash overripe bananas in the freezer if you can't bake right away—they're perfect for this.

→ Top looking overdone?

Try loosely covering it with foil to prevent burning. You could also lower the temperature slightly or move the pan farther from the top heating element.

→ Does this use milk?

No milk in this recipe! This makes it great for people avoiding dairy, but don't worry—it still comes out wonderfully rich and moist due to the bananas.

→ Getting too dry?

More bananas can help with that. Double-check your oven's temperature, and don’t let it bake for too long. Wrapping the loaf well after cooling also keeps it soft.

→ Traveling with it?

Wrap the loaf snugly once it’s cool to hold in the freshness. Place it flat in a sturdy box for the trip—it’s tougher than you'd think!

→ In a rush?

Speed things up by sifting together dry ingredients first, and mashing bananas quickly. You can make this in just one bowl—simple as that!

→ Want to make more?

Doubling the recipe works perfectly. Just grab more pans and spread them out in the oven. Any extras freeze beautifully—great for when you want a quick treat!

→ Want extra flavor?

Try tossing in more spices or a drizzle of honey. Freshly chopped nuts make a difference too. Even some chocolate chunks could work—just don’t overpower the banana flavor!

→ Not rising properly?

Check that your leavening ingredients (like baking soda) are fresh. Avoid overmixing the batter and make sure you’ve got the right oven temperature.

→ Sticky top problem?

Let the bread cool completely before wrapping it. Using a rack helps air it out too. Patience is key!

Conclusion

If this makes you smile, you'll enjoy banana pancakes. Or try soft banana muffins—they're sweet and use ripe bananas beautifully.

Grandmas Banana Nut Bread

Quick and classic banana bread with nuts.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
40 Minutes
Total Time
50 Minutes

Category: Breads and Muffins

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: French

Yield: 18 Servings (2 loaves)

Dietary: Vegetarian, Dairy-Free

Ingredients

01 1½ teaspoons baking soda.
02 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
03 4 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1⅓ cups or 303 grams).
04 Pinch of salt.
05 ½ cup sunflower oil.
06 2 cups plain flour.
07 2 eggs.
08 1 cup sugar.
09 1 cup roughly chopped walnuts.

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to 175°C. Lightly grease two loaf pans (around 20x10 cm) and put them to the side.

Step 02

In a medium-sized bowl, mix up the flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt using a whisk. Keep this blend aside for later.

Step 03

In a big bowl, whisk together the sugar, sunflower oil, eggs, and vanilla until everything's smooth and well combined.

Step 04

Stir the mashed bananas into the wet mix gently until everything’s evenly combined.

Step 05

Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, folding it all together until the batter looks smooth throughout.

Step 06

Gently stir in the chopped walnuts using a rubber spatula.

Step 07

Pour equal amounts of batter into the loaf pans you greased earlier.

Step 08

Pop the pans into the oven and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a knife poked into the middle comes out clean. If the top starts browning too soon, cover it with some foil in the last few minutes.

Step 09

Once baked, let the loaves sit in their pans for 10 minutes. Then gently take them out and let them cool fully on a wire rack.

Step 10

Wrap each loaf tightly in plastic wrap to keep at room temperature for up to 5 days. Or, if freezing, cover the wrap in aluminum foil too, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

  1. If you’ve only got one larger loaf pan, like a 9-inch one, you can use that instead. Just check for doneness around 55 minutes.
  2. For sweeter and softer bread, choose bananas that are very ripe and have lots of brown spots on their skin.
  3. You can swap out the walnuts for pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, or cashews. Don’t want nuts? You can skip them altogether!
  4. For a fun twist, add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon for extra flavor, or toss in chocolate chips, raisins, or dried cranberries.

Tools You'll Need

  • Oven.
  • Medium bowl.
  • Large bowl.
  • 20x10 cm loaf pans.
  • Spatula.
  • Whisk.
  • Wire cooling rack.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Nuts.
  • Gluten.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 219
  • Total Fat: 10 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 28 g
  • Protein: 3 g