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Banana bread is a great treat year-round, but it’s especially delicious when the weather starts to cool down and you’re looking for something comforting to eat. It’s even better when it’s homemade, warm, and fresh from the oven.
It’s easy to find a banana walnut bread recipe online, but not all of them are created equally. Some are better than others and some are easier than others. You’ll want to find the banana bread recipe sweet spot – a recipe that results in delicious, moist banana bread that’s also easy to follow. Using the best quality ingredients also helps to create the best possible banana bread. When it’s finished, you can garnish it with fresh cream, warm caramel sauce, or a scoop of ice cream, or eat it all on its own.
Looking for the best ever banana walnut bread recipe? Here are five easy steps to follow to get the best tasting banana nut bread.
Step 1: Check Your Pantry for Ingredients
The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure you have all of the ingredients for the best ever banana walnut bread recipe on hand or plan to run to the supermarket if you’re short any ingredients. This recipe calls for:
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Cooking spray or butter if your loaf pan isn’t non-stick
Step 2: Prepare Your Pan and Pre-heat the Oven
Next, you’ll want to get your loaf pan ready for the batter once it’s mixed. We prefer using a pan that isn’t non-stick and spraying it with cooking spray or smearing butter to prevent sticking. You can also sprinkle a thin layer of flour in the pan to further prevent sticking. If you are using a non-stick pan, it might still be a good idea to coat the pan since breads tend to be stickier types of batter.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Now you’re ready to begin mixing the batter.
Step 3: Chop the Walnuts
Though you can add unchopped walnuts to the banana bread batter, some people find they prefer small chunks in the batter. It doesn’t affect cooking time or the rest of the recipe, but it will affect the texture and crunch of the final product. It’s also possible to add both chopped and whole walnuts to the bread – the choice is entirely yours!
Step 4: Mix Wet Ingredients
We’ve found that it’s best to use a hand or stand mixer to beat the bananas, sugar, and other wet ingredients, but it isn’t necessary. Some people prefer to mix bread ingredients in the most basic manner possible. It’s all a matter of personal preference and both methods work well in this recipe.
First, smash the banana and then mix it with the sugar until it’s completely combined. Next, add the remaining wet ingredients and mix to further combine.
Step 5: Mix Dry Ingredients and Add to Wet Batter
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Now you’ll want to mix together the remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Carefully measure each dry ingredient, mix it in the bowl, and then add bit by bit to the wet batter. We’ve found a spatula works best for this, especially if you’re using a stand mixer. Just scoop a bit of dry mixture into the wet batter, mix until incorporate, add a bit more, and repeat the process until all of the wet and dry ingredients are mixed together.
Make sure you aren’t overmixing. You want all of the ingredients to be blended into a cohesive batter, but overmixing can lead to tough bread.
Step 6: Bake the Banana Bread
Now comes the time to bake the best ever banana walnut bread recipe. Pour all of the batter into the prepared loaf pan and check to make sure the oven has preheated to the correct temperature. As tempting as it might be to leave some of the batter behind to enjoy raw, remember this recipe contains raw eggs, which are dangers to consume. Use the spatula to scrape the sides of the mixing bowl and get as much batter into your loaf pan as possible.
Sprinkle the remaining walnuts on top of the loaf before putting it into the pan. Some people also like to sprinkle a bit of sugar (about a tsp.) onto the top of the loaf for added sweetness, but this is optional.
Place your filled banana bread loaf pan into the oven and bake for 60 to 75 minutes. It’s a good idea to check your bread after about 45-50 minutes. Ovens tend to vary in cooking ability and the size and color of your loaf pan can also have an effect on cooking time. If you check it 15 minutes before it’s supposed to be finished and every 5-10 minutes after that, you’ll be able to avoid overcooking your banana bread.
You’ll know the bread is done when the top of the loaf begins to crack. It’s also a good idea to insert a knife into the center and make sure it comes out clean of raw batter.
Step 7: Enjoy the Best Ever Banana Walnut Bread!
The final step is the best step of all. Allow your bread to cook for about 10 minutes before serving. You can remove it from the loaf pan or leave it in the pan and serve straight from there. This helps to keep the bread warm longer.
There are plenty of ways to serve the best ever banana walnut bread recipe. Plain by the slice is delicious, considering how moist and flavorful this bread is. It’s also great with a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of fresh, homemade whipping cream, or drizzled with caramel sauce or hot fudge.
