Banana Bread with Pecans

This Easy Banana Bread recipe is loaded with pecans! The texture is moist and each bite has a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg making this quick bread recipe SO delicious. Simply combine everything and bake - it's that easy! You'll have an incredible loaf to enjoy in no time.

While you're here, take a look at this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and Chocolate Banana Bread!

Jump to:

• Banana Bread Ingredients 
• How to Ripen Bananas 
• Tips
• Variations
• How to make Banana Bread with Pecans
• Storing Banana Bread
• FAQs
• Banana Bread with Pecans

So I love a easy recipe and after the banana bread craze of 2020, I must say - I'm still hung up on it! This recipe merges tasty pecans with a moist banana bread with a soft crumb and and buttery texture. It literally melts in your mouth! 

After years of perfecting this recipe, it's become my favorite banana bread recipe yet. The delicious ripe bananas and the crunchy pecans take this classic recipe and make it irresistibly delicious.

It makes the perfect afternoon snack, snack for your kids lunch, or even a companion to your morning coffee. I just love this recipe so much and I know that you will too! 

If you're looking for a simple yet classic banana bread recipe, this recipe is a MUST. Let's talk about it below 🙂 

Banana Bread Ingredients 

(full list of ingredients in the recipe card below)

• Overripe Bananas - use the ripest bananas that you can find. This is key to a sweet banana bread!
• Brown Sugar and Sugar - using a mix of brown and granulated sugars adds both flavor and moisture to the banana bread.
• Baking Soda - we're using baking soda as the banana bread batter is heavy and needs a nice push to rise in the oven! 
• Salted Butter - I think that salted butter has more flavor. However, if you're watching your salt intake or only have unsalted butter on hand, you can use this instead. If doing this, increase the amount of salt used by ¼ tsp.
• Sour Cream - make sure it's at room temperature! Sour cream adds both flavor and moisture making this one of the best banana bread recipes ever.

How to Ripen Bananas 

If you don't have any over-ripe bananas, fret not, there's a couple of trick to get those bananas banana bread ready! 

Oven Method:

• Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
• Place unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet.
• Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the banana skins turn black.
• Let the bananas cool before peeling. The heat accelerates the ripening process.

Paper Bag Method:

• Place the unripe bananas in a brown paper bag.
• Add an apple or a ripe banana to the bag. These fruits release ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process. Close the bag tightly and leave it at room temperature.
• Check the bananas after 24 hours. They should have ripened or be close to ripening.

Tips

1. Use room temperature ingredients: Make sure that your eggs, butter, and other dairy ingredients are at room temperature. This helps them mix more evenly into the batter.
2. If the top of the bread is browning too quickly while in the oven, cover with a little aluminum foil to prevent the edges from burning. 
3. For best results, weigh out your wet and dry ingredients. This prevents you from adding too much or too little of any of the components of this recipe. 
4. Mash bananas thoroughly: Mash the bananas well to ensure a smooth and even texture in the batter. You can use a fork or a potato masher to mash any large pieces.
5. Adjust sugar based on banana ripeness: If your bananas are very ripe, you can reduce the amount of added sugar in the recipe since ripe bananas are already sweet.

Variations

My favorite way to enjoy banana bread is with a little butter and sea salt flakes on top. It brings out the banana flavor while adding a nice buttery touch. 

• Add a cream cheese frosting! Use the cream cheese frosting from my pumpkin bread for a decadent flair!   
• Chocolate chips - I already have a chocolate chip banana bread recipe, but simply add chocolate chips for all of my chocolate lovers! 
• Brown butter - brown the butter used in this recipe to add an extra layer of flavor. 
• Make healthy banana bread by using whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour. You can also replace the sugar with honey! 

How to make Banana Bread with Pecans

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick baking spray or line with parchment paper. Set aside. 

Use a potato masher to mash the bananas in a large bowl. Add eggs, melted butter, oil, brown sugar, and sugar to the mashed bananas. Use an electric hand mixer to mix everything together until smooth, then add sour cream and vanilla extract and mix until combined. (Image 1)

Add in the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients - all purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt. Continue to mix until just combined. (Image 2 and 3)

Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 60-70 minutes, until a toothpick comes out of the center with just a few crumbs. Allow the pecan banana bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn over onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Storing Banana Bread

Storing banana bread properly is essential to maintain its freshness and prevent it from drying out. Here are some tips on how to store banana bread:

• Let the banana bread cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps to seal in moisture and prevent the bread from drying out. (If you prefer, you can place the wrapped banana bread in an airtight container instead of using plastic wrap or foil. This can provide an extra layer of protection against air and keep the bread fresh.)
• Refrigerate for longer storage: If you don't plan to consume the banana bread within a few days, consider refrigerating it. Wrap it well and place it in the refrigerator. The cool temperature will slow down the staling process.
• Freeze for extended storage: Banana bread freezes well. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil or place it in a freezer bag. Label it with the date for reference. Frozen banana bread can be stored for several months.
• Thawing frozen banana bread: When ready to enjoy frozen banana bread, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter for a few hours. You can also warm individual slices in the microwave or oven.

FAQs