Perfect One Bowl Banana Nut Bread
Perfect One Bowl Banana Nut Bread is the easiest banana nut bread recipe that you’ll ever make! It’s moist, fluffy and comes together in just one bowl!
I’m taking a break from apples, pears, pumpkin and all things fall today to bring you a classic. It’s important to provide you with this banana nut bread recipe because I have zero classic banana bread (or muffin) recipes here.
Overripe bananas are on my counter every few days, and rather than freeze all of them for smoothies, I love making healthier banana nut bread to have around for breakfasts and snacks. I’m thinking a lot of you have this overripe banana “problem” too, so I’ve worked hard on this recipe for you…and for me. 🙂
I’m one of those people that’s always in search of the next best brownie or chocolate chip cookie recipes, and the same is true for banana nut bread. There are so many recipes out there that claim to be the best, and I’m sure they’re amazing, but one person’s idea if the best is not another’s.
Some recipes claim that butter makes all the difference because banana nut bread needs that flavor, and some say oil is essential to provide more moisture.
What’s a person to believe?
I normally don’t bake my quick breads with butter for health reasons and only use butter if I feel like I need that flavor. I want my banana nut bread to have BIG banana flavor, so butter is pretty much out the door. I love using oil to let the natural flavors shine through, and it really does a bang-up job tenderizing baked goods.
My idea of the perfect banana nut bread goes like this:
- I love a quick bread that has risen beautifully with a domed top (and the nuts on top only make it more appealing to me).
- BIG banana flavor!
- It’s perfectly moist and tender.
- Absolutely positively no nuts on the inside (on top is fine because they stay crunchy and get toasty).
- The bread contains some nutrition in the form of whole grains.
- Minimal sugar (bonus if it’s unrefined like coconut sugar).
- One bowl to clean because I hate doing dishes.
That’s quite the laundry list, and surprisingly it wasn’t hard to achieve. I based this recipe off of my basic muffin/quickbread recipes, which include a combination of Greek yogurt and milk.
After a few tries, I decided to eliminate the milk and use all Greek yogurt to make the ingredient list shorter. While the bread was moist, the crumb was quite heavy.
It was good, but hadn’t hit my perfect status yet.
18 overripe bananas and 6 tries later, I decided to scratch the Greek yogurt and use only milk. I was amazed at how light and moist the crumb was. I’d left to run and errand and came home and my kids had helped themselves to a slice while I was gone.
They told me good job on the banana nut bread and that it was awesome. I had to agree….I knew this was my perfect loaf.
I didn’t mean to go on a banana bread tangent, but I guess I did! Obviously I’m pretty passionate about it because it is a classic, and I’m very pleased that I was able to make a lightened up version that I’m so happy with.
This is the banana nut bread recipe I’ll turn to every time I have overripe bananas lying around because it’s my version of perfect. I hope you think it’s perfect too! 🙂
More banana recipes you’ll love!
- Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal by Live Well Bake Often
- Flourless Banana Muffins
- Peanut Butter Banana Oat Bars
- Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
- Oatmeal Banana Bread
Perfect One Bowl Banana Nut Bread
Perfect One Bowl Banana Nut Bread is the easiest banana nut bread recipe that you'll ever make! It's moist, fluffy and comes together in just one bowl!
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar (you may substitute this with granulated or brown sugar)
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 3/4 cup skim milk (or your choice of non-dairy)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 large bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups whole wheat white flour (or you can use 1 cup all purpose with 3/4 cup whole wheat flour)
- 1/2 cup walnut pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a standard size loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, and oil vigorously until frothy, about 30 seconds.
- Whisk in the milk, vanilla, and bananas until well combined.
- Whisk in the baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt until incorporated.
- Stir in the flour until just combined, being careful not to over mix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Top the batter with the walnuts and press in slightly.
- Bake for 50-60 minute or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out fairly clean with moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- This banana nut bread freezes very well!
- All oven temperatures vary, so it's best to set the timer for 50 minutes and check the doneness.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 369Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 213mgCarbohydrates: 58gFiber: 6gSugar: 21gProtein: 10g
Nutrition information is mean to be an estimate only. The numbers will vary based on the quantity consumed, brands used and substitutions that are made.
28 Comments on “Perfect One Bowl Banana Nut Bread”
You can’t go wrong with a classic like this! Banana bread is my absolute favorite, so I’m loving that you created a one bowl version, and with nuts! Looks so good, Marcie! And I completely agree with your list. Your pictures are just gorgeous!
Thanks so much, Gayle!
I love this banana bread!! I rarely add nuts to my recipe, but this topping is convincing me that I’ve been missing out 🙂
I only add the nuts on top so they get toasty and crunchy! Thanks, Megan!
Wowzas this really does look like the perfect loaf of banana bread! Nice work for diligently discovering the perfect recipe – that’s dedication! And One bowl?! I’m in!! I’ll definitely have to try this come holiday season, as every person in my family (myself included) is *obsessed* with banana bread!
I definitely dedicated myself to this banana bread…it was important business! haha Thanks so much, Julia!
Love the crunchy walnut topping! Wish I had a slice to go with my coffee!
Thank you, Jessica, and it’s the best with coffee! 🙂
OMG, Banana Bread HEAVEN going on here, Marcie!!! Seriously, I love me some banana bread and this one I absolutely HAVE to try! Love that this is one bowl and that nut topping looks KILLER!! I am definitely eating this entire loaf by myself! I don’t share delicious food. 😉 Pinned! Cheers!
You’re so sweet…thank you for the kind words!! I have to tell my boys they only get one slice a day or it’ll be gone in 5 minutes! haha
Hi Marcie, this very well could be the best banana bread recipe, I like using oil too, more moist. Love the walnut topping.
Thank you, Cheri! I definitely think the oil makes it perfectly moist!
The total food geek in me loved reading all about your perfect banana bread quest!! And oh does this look good. What I would do for a piece to snack on right now!!
I’m glad you enjoyed that because I’m afraid I may’ve bored most people to tears! haha Thanks, Ashley!
What a classic looking banana nut bread, Marcie. Love how easy this is and also love this is made in one bowl. And that crunchy walnut topping is just wow! Would love to enjoy this is a glass of cold milk.
Thank you, Anu! ?
Oh yeah, I am with you. A bread needs that nice perfect dome and this looks great. So beautiful!!
Thank you, Zainab!
This banana nut bread looks great, Marcie! Love that it’s made in one bowl and the addition of walnuts is delicious. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this bread, Marcie! It really does look perfect, and I love that it’s made in one bowl. I used to always have an overabundance of ripe bananas. Lately, I’ve been buying two bunches and we still eat them all with none left over! I guess I have to start buying a third bunch each week. 🙂
There was a time when we went through bananas a lot more, but I still buy the same amount and freeze them for smoothies and make bread, etc! Thanks, Kristine! ?
Oh yum, banana bread is my favourite! It looks soooo good:)
Thank you so much, Natalia!
Your banana bread looks perfect, Marcie! Love that gorgeous dome and the crunchy walnuts! Yay for one bowl too! 🙂
Thank you, Kelly! 🙂
Oh gosh, who doesn’t love a great banana bread? Such a beautiful classic Marcie! LOVE how gorgeous these pics look!
Thank you so much, Jessica! 🙂
Thank you, Puja!