Banana Walnut Bread

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This easy and healthy banana bread recipe is made with whole wheat flour, protein packed Greek yogurt, and toasted walnuts. It’s extra moist and has great banana flavor! Enjoy a slice as part of your breakfast or an afternoon snack.

If you love this banana bread recipe then I know you’ll love my chai banana bread. It’s full of fragrant, warm, sweet spices!

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A loaf of banana bread with three slices cut from it.

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Banana Bread

Wholesome and full of protein – The banana bread is made entirely with whole wheat flour, which means a serving of whole grains for you. It also uses Greek yogurt, which gives the bread additional protein as well as keeping it extra moist.

Not too sweet – This banana bread is sweet without being too sweet. You can of course make it sweeter if you’d like or if your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough. The more ripe your bananas are the sweeter they are and the less added sweetener you’ll need.

Walnuts – Walnuts not only add nice crunch to the banana bread, but they’re great for your heart and brain health.

Easy to make – Banana bread is a quick bread, which means there’s no waiting for it to rise or kneading involved. You don’t need any special equipment, just a couple mixing bowls and a loaf pan.

Ingredients used to make banana bread.

Ingredients Notes

Bananas – Use ripe bananas for this recipe. They should have brown spots all over them.

Greek yogurt – You can use any fat content, but I think 2% or whole milk Greek yogurt is best.

Eggs – Bind the banana bread together.

Maple syrup and brown sugar – I like to use a combination of both maple syrup and dark brown sugar for extra moisture without sacrificing the structure of the bread.

Vanilla – Use vanilla bean paste for a more intense vanilla flavor.

Butter – Melted butter gives the bread great flavor! I recommend using unsalted butter.

Flour – When baking with whole grains I like to use white whole wheat flour. It’s still whole wheat flour, but has a lighter texture and taste.

Baking soda – Not to be confused with baking powder. Baking soda makes the bread rise.

Salt – Don’t forget the salt! If enhances the flavors as well as balancing out the sweetness.

Cinnamon – I always add cinnamon to my banana bread. It pairs nicely with bananas.

Walnuts – Toast the walnuts before adding them to the batter for the best flavor.

Two slices of banana bread on a white plate.

How to Make Banana Walnut Bread

Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. In a separate mixing bowl mash the bananas and whisk the remaining wet ingredients in with them.

Pour the wet ingredients in with the dry and stir together with a spatula until just combined. Stir in the walnuts and then pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.

Bake the banana bread at 350° F. for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with a few crumbs attached. Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it onto a wire cooling rack.

Banana Bread Success Tips

  • Ripe bananas are essential to a good banana bread. If the bananas aren’t ripe the bread won’t have that wonderful banana flavor and won’t be sweet enough.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. They’ll mix together better if they aren’t cold.
  • Don’t overmix the batter or the bread will be tough and chewy.
  • If your banana bread starts to get too brown on top while it’s baking, cover it loosely with a piece of foil.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Use all-purpose flour instead of white whole wheat flour.
  • For a sweeter banana bread increase the maple syrup to a 1/3 cup.
  • Maple syrup can be substituted with an equal amount of honey.
  • Use a different type of nut. Pecans are a great alternative. You can also omit the walnuts to make a nut-free banana bread.
  • If you don’t want to use melted butter, replace it with an equal amount of oil. I like to use avocado oil.
  • Add a 1/2 cup dried fruit such as raisins or dried cranberries.

Can I Bake the Banana Bread in a Different Size Pan?

Yes. If you don’t have a 9 inch loaf pan you can divide the batter into (2) 8 inch loaf pans. The baking time will be shorter. I suggest checking it at 40 minutes.

A loaf of banana bread on a wire cooling rack.

Storage and Freezing

Banana bread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

My preference is to freeze banana bread for the freshest flavor and to prevent it from drying out. Wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer bag or other airtight container for 2-3 months. You can also wrap the entire loaf in plastic wrap and store it in a freezer bag.

Pull a slice of the bread out of the freezer and let it defrost at room temperature for 10 minutes, then enjoy! To defrost the entire loaf, let it defrost in the refrigerator or on the counter overnight.

More Recipes Using Bananas

If you’ve got ripe bananas sitting on your counter, I’ve got recipe for you to make with them!

This banana bread baked oatmeal tastes just like banana bread, and is great for a make ahead breakfast or snack.

If muffins are more your thing, try these peanut butter banana muffins or pumpkin banana muffins.

For an easy and healthyish dessert, make this banana snack cake. It’s topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and is divine!

Finally, for a sweet treat to cool off with in the summer, try out these chocolate peanut butter banana yogurt pops. They’re a kid and adult friendly snack!

Did you make this banana walnut bread? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.

A loaf of banana bread with three slices cut from it.
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Banana Walnut Bread

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
This healthy banana bread is made with whole wheat flour, protein packed Greek yogurt, and toasted walnuts. It's moist and has great banana flavor!
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Equipment

Ingredients 

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Wet Ingredients

  • 4 ripe bananas, 2 cups mashed
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, 1/3 cup if you want a sweeter banana bread
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or vanilla bean paste

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, except the walnuts.
  • Mash the bananas then whisk in the yogurt, brown sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla.
  • Pour the wet mixture in with the flour and fold everything together with a rubber spatula. Stir in the walnuts. Be careful not to overmix the batter or the bread will be tough.
  • Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs attached. If the bread starts to get too brown on top cover it loosely with a piece of foil. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it onto a wire cooling rack.

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 6gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 205mgFiber: 3gSugar: 15g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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