Moist and Delicious Buttermilk Banana Nut Bread: A Simple Recipe
Are you ready to bake the most incredibly moist and flavorful banana nut bread you've ever tasted? This recipe uses buttermilk for an extra tangy kick and unbelievably soft crumb. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this easy-to-follow recipe!
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe yields one loaf of delicious banana nut bread. Adjust quantities as needed for larger batches.
- For the wet ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- For the dry ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (or a mix!)
Step-by-Step Baking Instructions:
Let's get baking! Follow these simple steps for perfectly baked banana nut bread:
1. Preheat & Prep:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. This prevents sticking and ensures easy removal.
2. Cream Together the Butter and Sugars:
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. A stand mixer or hand mixer works best for this step.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla:
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
5. Alternately Add Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined – don't overmix!
6. Fold in Bananas and Nuts:
Gently fold in the mashed bananas and chopped nuts.
7. Pour and Bake:
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool and Enjoy:
Let the banana nut bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Banana Nut Bread:
- Use very ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can lead to a tough bread. Mix only until the ingredients are just combined.
- Check for doneness: Start checking for doneness around 50 minutes. Every oven is slightly different.
- Store properly: Store your banana nut bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Variations:
- Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread: Add 1 cup of chocolate chips to the batter.
- Spiced Banana Nut Bread: Add ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg and ½ teaspoon of ground cloves to the dry ingredients.
- Gluten-Free Banana Nut Bread: Substitute gluten-free all-purpose flour for the all-purpose flour.
Enjoy your homemade buttermilk banana nut bread! It's perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. Let us know in the comments how yours turned out!
