The BEST Banana Bread with Pecans Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

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This BEST Banana Bread with Pecans is an easy recipe to make, tastes amazing, and will earn you raves from your family and friends.

If you’re looking for more bread recipes, Rosemary Balsamic Bread Dipping Oil and Rustic Bread Salad with Tomatoes will help you find the perfect appetizer recipe.

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If you’ve been hunting for the perfect banana nut bread recipe, you can rest now because the hunt is over.

I found the original recipe in one of the Food Network cookbooks. It had lots of good reviews, so I decided to try it.

My mom always made an excellent loaf of banana bread, but the recipe has shortening, so I’ve been looking for a replacement.

Do you know what the most searched-for bread recipe online is? It’s not white bread, not wheat bread, and it’s not sourdough. The number one online search for bread is banana bread.

This yummy bread is one of those classic recipes that continue to stay as popular as it always has been.

My mom always made our banana bread with pecans – so any banana bread that doesn’t have them isn’t real banana bread to me.

Everyone loves to show off their homemade breads in our cozy living group. There’s something so soothing about baking your own bread and knowing every ingredient that goes into it.

This banana nut bread with pecans recipe is good enough to become a family favorite and is perfect to hand down future generations.

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History of Homemade Banana Bread:

When baking soda and baking powder became popular in the 1930s, that’s when banana bread made its way into cookbooks like Pillsbury’s 1933 Balanced Recipes Cookbook, according to Wikipedia.

Banana bread also became popular during this time because of the Great Depression. Every scrap of food was used because any type of food waste was unacceptable.

For more information on the history of banana bread, check out this fun article on King Arthur Flour’s website.

The BEST Banana Bread with Pecans Recipe | Montana Happy (3)

Fun Facts About Bananas

1) When the banana is green, it has a high starch content. As the banana turns yellow, the starches turn to sugars.

2) In Ecuador, each person eats 218 pounds of bananas yearly. Americans, on average, eat 27 pounds of bananas per year.

3) Hawaii is the only place in the United States where bananas are grown commercially.

4) Bananas are thought to grow on trees. The plants they grow on are classified as an herb. (Ok – I think most people don’t know that little tidbit.)

5) Bananas are a great source of potassium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6.

What you can do with leftover banana skins

Don’t throw out those banana skins. There are quite a few uses for them.

  • Did you know that the oils inside the banana skin can help with itching and inflammation caused by bug bites?
  • Bury banana skins next to your rose bushes. They love the nutrients in their skins.
  • You can use the inside of the banana peel to shine your houseplant leaves.
  • Chickens, rabbits, and pigs all love banana peels. Make sure you buy organic bananas if you’re going to feed them to your livestock.
  • Rub the inside of the banana peel on your face for a natural way to exfoliate and nourish your skin.

How to ripen bananas faster

Place bananas in a brown paper bag and seal. If you want to speed up the process further, add another fruit, like an apple.

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you found this recipe on how to make banana nut bread with pecans, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook groupcalledCreating a Cozy Lifewith over 123,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

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Imagine coming home after a long day at work. You kick off your shoes, light a fire and sink into your cozy chair with a slice of warm, moist banana bread with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar.

The problems of the day will disappear. At least, that’s my theory. Banana bread makes everything better. Much better.

It’s time to gather the ingredients you need for the best banana bread.

  • All-purpose flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • overripe bananaswith brown spots
  • sugar
  • unsalted butter
  • large eggs
  • pecan pieces
  • vanilla
  • confectioners sugar

Here’s the Banana Nut Bread with Pecans Recipe

Ingredients for Banana Bread with Pecans

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 overripe bananas

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cool

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped

Confectioners sugar (for dusting the bread after cooking – optional)

The BEST Banana Bread with Pecans Recipe | Montana Happy (5)

How to Make Banana BreadRecipe with Pecans

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Lightly grease a 9×5 loaf pan.

3) Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside the flour mixture.

4) Mash two over-ripe bananas with a fork in a separate medium bowl. Make sure they still have a bit of texture.

5) Mix the remaining two bananas and sugar together for at least 3 minutes in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer. You want the mixture to be a light and fluffy cream.

6) Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla to the banana mixture. Using the hand mixer, beat well, and scrape down the bowl’s sides of the wet ingredients.

7) Fold in the dry ingredients with the wet mixture, until everything is mixed together (don’t over-blend). Add the nuts and the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula.

8) Pour batter into the greased loaf pan.

9) Tap the prepared loaf pan on the counter to get the bubbles out of the dough.

10) Bake time is 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Rotate the bread regularly to make sure it browns on every side. Bake until the top of the bread is golden brown. Use the toothpick test. Put a clean toothpick in the middle of the bread, and if it comes out clean, it’s ready.

11) Let the delicious loaf of banana bread cool for at least 10 minutes on a wire rack for the best results. When you’re ready to serve the banana bread, toast the bread slices and sprinkle them with confectioners’ sugar.

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Tips for Making the Banana Nut Bread with Pecans

How long does the simple banana bread recipe last?

This quick bread recipe will last 3-4 days at room temperature. If the banana bread is refrigerated and secured in plastic wrap, it will last up to one week.

Can you freeze this easy banana nut bread recipe with pecans?

For longer storage, banana bread freezes well. If properly stored in an airtight container or freezer bag, banana bread can last 2-3 months in the freezer.

  • If a crack forms down the middle of the bread, don’t worry – that’s normal.
  • You don’t want to cover the bread while cooking because it won’t brown.
  • You can substitute chopped walnuts for pecans if you prefer.
  • Check on the banana bread after an hour of baking. Every oven is different.
  • Make sure you rotate the bread for even browning.
  • Add 1/4 cup of chocolate chips to the batter to make chocolate chip banana bread.
  • You can add this easy banana bread recipe to a bundt pan or make banana muffins.
  • Add a teaspoon of cinnamon if you want to change up this recipe.

Printable Recipe Card Banana Nut Bread Recipe with Pecans with Nutrition Information

The BEST Banana Bread with Pecans Recipe | Montana Happy (7)

Yield: 1 loaf

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

This isn't your average banana bread, this recipe produces a rich, moist, buttery tasting bread that everyone will love.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 overripe bananas
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
  • Confectioners' sugar (for dusting the bread after cooking - optional)

Instructions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) Lightly grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan
3) Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
4) Mash two of the bananas with a fork in a separate bowl. Make sure they still have a bit of texture.
5) With an electric mixture, mix the remaining two bananas and sugar together for at least 3 minutes in a large bowl. You want the mixture to be a light and fluffy cream.
6) Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla to the banana cream mixture. Beat well, and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
7) Fold in the dry ingredients, until everything is mixed together (don't over blend). Add the nuts and the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula.
8) Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan.
9) Tap the pan on the counter to get the bubbles out of the dough.
10) Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Rotate the bread regularly to make sure it browns on every side. Bake until the bread is a golden brown. Insert the toothpick into the middle of the bread and if it comes out clean, it's ready.
11) Let the bread cool for at least 10 minutes. When you're ready to serve the banana bread, toast the bread slices and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Information

Yield

10

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 432Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 74mgSodium 312mgCarbohydrates 63gFiber 2gSugar 38gProtein 5g

We’ve reached the end of Banana Nut Bread with Pecans. I hope you enjoyed it.It’s my most popular recipe. I think it will become your go-to banana bread recipe.

Let me know in the comments below how you liked this BestBanana Bread.

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The BEST Banana Bread with Pecans Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

FAQs

Why are older bananas better for banana bread? ›

Ripe bananas are not only softer and easier to mash and blend into a batter, but they are also sweeter, which is why baking recipes specifically call for ripe bananas in ingredient lists. As the bananas ripen, the fruit converts starches to sugars, making them sweeter and more flavorful.

Why is my banana nut bread so dense? ›

An overmixed banana bread batter will result in a dense, rubbery loaf. As you're prepping your batter, heed the advice of "stir until just moistened" and "no more than 10 seconds."

Why is my banana nut bread gummy? ›

For soft and tender banana bread, gently stir the wet ingredients into the dry — don't overmix! The more you stir, the more gluten will develop. The result will be a tough, rubbery banana bread. Simply stir until moist, and then do no more.

Why did my banana bread flop? ›

The banana bread will not rise much during baking and may sink slightly in the centre on cooling, but should not collapse competely. If it did collapse then it is likely that the banana bread had not quite baked fully (and in light of the ingredient change may have needed a slightly longer baking time).

Can bananas be too overripe for banana bread? ›

As it sits at room temperature, starches convert to sugars, making the fruit sweeter and softer. These brown spots, often seen as a sign of spoilage, are actually a dead giveaway of peak banana bread potential. But, there is a limit. Black bananas or rotten bananas are a no-go.

At what point are bananas too bad for banana bread? ›

In my experience, using bananas with a dark brown or even black peel for banana bread is ideal, as long as the inside isn't rotten. Key takeaway: As long as your bananas aren't starting to get moldy, infested with fruit flies or beginning to rot they aren't too ripe for baking banana bread.

What happens if you put too much baking soda in banana nut bread? ›

Bitter Taste: Excessive baking soda can leave a bitter taste in the bread. Baking soda is alkaline, and an excessive amount of it can result in an unpleasant flavor. Unpleasant Texture: Too much baking soda can lead to a coarse and crumbly texture in the bread.

What happens if you put too much flour in banana bread? ›

If you use too much flour, you'll end up with really dry banana bread, and If you don't use enough flour, your banana bread will be way too wet. The secret lies in how you measure the flour. The scoop out of the bag method could be packing way too much flour.

How long should banana bread cool in the pan? ›

Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or a digital thermometer inserted into the center reads 200-205°F, about 55 to 65 minutes. Cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes before removing the loaf from the pan to finish cooling completely.

Why is my banana bread tasting weird? ›

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is the raising agent and this can sometimes taste bitter or soapy if the wrong quantity is used. Make sure that you measure the bicarbonate of soda with a proper 1 teaspoon/5ml measuring spoon and the spoon measurement should be level.

Why does my banana bread taste weird? ›

You may not have followed the recipe correctly. For example, you may have added too much liquid, or you may not have added enough of some dry ingredient, and therefore your dough may have had too much moisture. Your recipe may be faulty.

Why is my banana bread like a brick? ›

Your bananas here were too dry, maybe because they were not so ripe, and they dried out the rest of the batter, making it dense and heavy. In dense and heavy batter, it's hard for your baking powder to make air bubbles (that's why you got a brick).

Why is my banana bread raw in the middle? ›

It can take 15 minutes to properly preheat some ovens. If your oven has not reached the correct baking temperature before the banana bread is placed in the oven, the banana bread will be undercooked and more likely to sink.

How do you keep banana bread moist? ›

Place a paper towel at the bottom of an airtight container or in a zip-top bag. Place the cooled banana bread on top of it, then cover the loaf with another paper towel. Seal the container tightly and refrigerate for up to one week.

How old should bananas be for banana bread? ›

Let the bananas ripen (and overripen) at room temperature. Depending on the weather, this could take a few days, or up to a week. The best bananas for banana bread aren't yellow; they're black. Or they're at least streaked with black/brown, with just the barest hint of green at the stem.

Why is it better to use overripe bananas? ›

The starch present in the overripe bananas gets converted into free sugar, due to which they are easily digested. By eating them, the body also gets instant energy.

Why overripe bananas for baking? ›

A banana that is perfectly ripe for eating is not at the same stage in its ripening process as one that is perfect for making into a banana cake. For baking, you need the sweetness that comes from an overripe banana – this means it will be very yellow with a few brown spots and feel soft.

Why are older bananas better for you? ›

“Very ripe and overripe bananas are rich in flavor and antioxidants, which can help benefit our immune systems,” says Gabriel. “They also take less time to digest, which can be beneficial, depending on the person.” This phase is also where bananas become just right for adding sweetness and heft to smoothies and shakes.

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