Easy Banana Nut Bread

This easy classic banana nut bread is everything a banana bread should be: moist, warm spiced, and studded with crunchy toasted walnuts.

Do you like your banana bread…nutty? A few dark brown bananas are an ordinary sight on our counter (yours too?). Usually our go-to banana recipes are healthy muffins or banana oatmeal pancakes, but this time we wanted something new. Meet this ultra Classic Banana Nut Bread! This one is just like Grandma’s: moist and cinnamon-scented, with bursts of crunchy walnuts throughout. To take it over the top, toast the nuts in a skillet to bring out their nutty undertones before gently folding them into the batter.

Ingredients in this banana nut bread

This banana nut bread is a straightforward take on the classic! We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve, so here are a few notes on what you’ll need:

Bananas: Make sure they are ultra ripe! Spotty and brown is good and black works too!
Walnuts: You can use any type of nut in banana nut bread. Walnuts and pecans are the most classic: but you can get creative (see below).
Neutral oil: We prefer oil in our quick breads because it doesn’t require melting like butter: one less step!
Light brown sugar: Color matters here! Dark brown makes the bread a very dark color
Eggs, baking soda & salt: The regular players for a quick bread.
Cinnamon and allspice: Allspice gives it just the right unique intrigue in flavor!
Vanilla: A hefty dose of vanilla gives it a smooth flavor.
All purpose and whole wheat flour: A mix of flours adds a nuance to the flavor a pinch of nutrients.

How to make banana nut bread

Banana nut bread is like any quick bread recipe. If you’ve made pumpkin bread or zucchini bread, you know the drill! There’s one extra step you’ll need in the beginning:

Toast the nuts in a dry skillet. This brings out their nutty flavor (see below).
Mix the wet ingredients. Mash that banana with a fork or potato masher first.
Mix the dries in a separate bowl.
Stir to combine, then gently fold in the nuts.
Bake for 45 minutes, then add foil and bake 15 more. Add the foil to make sure the nut topping doesn’t get too brown.

Why toasting the nuts makes a difference

The first step to this banana nut bread is toasting the nuts. Why do you toast nuts? Toasting nuts brings out at beautiful nutty essence that’s otherwise undetectable. You have to taste it to believe it, but there’s a huge difference between a raw nut and a toasted nut.

Over here, we always toast our nuts (yep!) before adding them to salads and desserts. So why not do it before folding into a quick bread? You can toast nuts on the stovetop or in the oven. Here’s How to Toast Nuts (2 Best Ways!).

Alternate nuts & mix-ins for banana nut bread!

Walnuts and bananas are a classic combination. But you can get creative with other types of nuts or add-ins! Here are a few ideas of mix-ins for banana nut bread:

Pecans
Hazelnuts
Cashews
Almonds
Chocolate chips
Butterscotch or peanut butter chips
Dried cherries or cranberries
Shredded coconut

The most fun part is combining them to make interesting flavors! Try chocolate hazelnut banana bread, cashew cherry, or coconut butterscotch.

Banana nut bread storage

Here’s the great thing about this banana nut bread: it’s seriously moist and keeps very well! You’ll find it’s even softer and moister the second day. We like to keep it at room temperature because it’s so beautifully moist and you can eat it right away. But here are a few options for storage:

How long does banana bread last at room temperature? 4 to 5 days, covered in aluminum foil.
Can you refrigerate banana bread? You can! Keep in mind that it does dry out a bit in the fridge. It also tastes a little better at room temp, so you may want to leave it on the counter for a few minutes before eating.
Can you freeze banana bread? Yes! Slice it into pieces and wrap it in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer safe bag or container. It stays good for about 3 months.

Vegan variation

Do you eat plant-based? It’s easy to make this banana nut bread vegan: just substitute flax eggs for the eggs. Flax eggs are simply ground flax seed mixed with water: it combines to make a gel-like substance that’s great as a binder in vegan baked goods.

Want another option? This Vegan Banana Bread is extremely delicious.

More banana recipes (bread, muffins, oh my!)

What else can you make with ripe bananas? So many things. Our favorite are our healthy muffins (many variations below), but there are lots of options. Here are our favorite banana recipes:

Bake up a pan of this fan-favorite Banana Baked Oatmeal
Blend up a creamy Chocolate Banana Smoothie or Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Spring for a treat with Chocolate Banana Muffins
Make a big pan of Healthy Banana Bread Muffins or Banana Blueberry Muffins
Opt for Healthy Banana Bread instead

This banana nut bread recipe is…

Vegetarian and dairy-free. For plant-based and vegan, substitute flax eggs for the eggs.