Got Ripe Bananas? Don’t Throw Them Away! Make This Soft & Moist Banana Walnut Bread
Have a few bananas sitting on the counter that have become brown, soft, and heavily spotted?
Don’t throw them out! 🍌
Those overripe bananas are actually perfect for banana bread because they bring plenty of natural sweetness and a deep banana flavor. This version combines them with crunchy walnuts, brown sugar, eggs, yogurt, and warm cinnamon for a tender loaf with a beautifully golden crust. Kitchn
🍌 Banana Walnut Bread
🛒 Ingredients
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
2 large eggs
½ cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
¼ cup vegetable oil
⅔ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅔ cup chopped walnuts
Extra walnuts for the top
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175–180°C).
Grease a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
2️⃣ Mash the bananas
Peel the ripe bananas and mash them in a large bowl with a fork until mostly smooth.
A few small pieces of banana are perfectly fine.
3️⃣ Mix the wet ingredients
Add the eggs, yogurt, vegetable oil, brown sugar, and vanilla.
Whisk until everything is well combined.
4️⃣ Add the dry ingredients
Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Gently fold everything together until just combined.
Don’t overmix the batter—this helps keep the finished bread soft and tender. Kitchn
5️⃣ Add the walnuts
Fold in the chopped walnuts.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
Sprinkle a generous handful of walnuts over the surface for extra crunch. 🌰
6️⃣ Bake
Place the pan in the oven and bake for approximately 55–65 minutes.
Insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs, the bread is ready. Kitchn
If the top begins browning too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil during the final part of baking.
7️⃣ Cool and slice
Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack.
Allow it to cool before slicing—if you can resist! 😍
✨ Tips for the Best Banana Walnut Bread
🍌 Use very ripe bananas: The more speckled they are, the stronger and sweeter the banana flavor tends to be.
🌰 Toast the walnuts: A few minutes of toasting can make their flavor deeper and more aromatic. Kitchn
🥣 Don’t overmix: Mix just until the flour disappears.
⏳ Let it cool: Cooling helps the crumb set and makes the slices easier to cut.
❄️ Storage: Keep the cooled loaf in an airtight container for several days, or wrap it well and freeze it for longer storage. Kitchn
🤤 The Result
Soft, moist banana bread on the inside…
Crunchy walnuts on top…
A golden crust…
And that incredible smell filling the kitchen while it bakes. 🍌🌰🍞
One slice probably won’t be enough! 😍
👇 Save this recipe for the next time you have overripe bananas!
