This recipe for banana bread with brown sugar and walnuts is a great way to make use of ripe bananas. It yields two loaves and can be served warm out of the oven in about an hour. If you can’t eat both loaves within a week, it freezes well for enjoyment at a later date.
Ingredients for Banana Bread with Brown Sugar and Walnuts
The ingredients you’ll need for this banana bread are:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter
- 4 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 3 to 4 ripe bananas
- 1 cup walnut pieces
Directions for Banana Bread with Walnuts and Brown Sugar
This banana bread with walnuts and brown sugar requires about 15 minutes of active preparation and 45 minutes of baking. You can expect to have freshly baked banana bread in an hour. Before you begin mixing the batter, you’ll need to preheat your oven to 350°F. You’ll also need two to have bread pans on hand. This recipe yields two loaves, with about 12 servings each.
The 10 easy steps it takes to make this banana bread with walnuts and brown sugar are:
1. Preheat the Oven to 350°F
Before you begin preparing the banana bread batter, preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Add the Dry Ingredients to a Large Bowl
Add all the dry banana bread ingredients to a large bowl. Mix thoroughly and create a shallow well in the center. This makes it easier to mix the batter when you add the wet ingredients. Once complete, set the bowl aside.
3. Cream the Butter and Brown Sugar
Allow the butter to soften to room temperature. Add the butter to a medium-sized bowl and cream it with the brown sugar using a hand mixer. You can also complete this step using a stand mixer.
4. Mash the Bananas
Peel the bananas and add them to a small bowl. Mash the bananas using a wire masher or potato masher. Alternatively, you can easily mash the bananas using a fork. Add the bananas to the butter and sugar mixture.
5. Whisk the Eggs and Add the Vanilla
In the bowl you used to mash the bananas, crack the eggs and whisk them briskly. Once the eggs are slightly foamy, mix them into the butter, sugar, and banana mixture. Stir in the vanilla at the end.
6. Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Pour the wet ingredients into the shallow well you created in the dry ingredients. Mix the batter until it’s just moist, making sure to avoid mixing it too much. If you overmix the batter, your banana bread could end up being tough.
7. Stir the Walnuts into the Batter
Lightly stir the walnuts into the batter. As with the prior step, only mix until the walnuts are incorporated. It’s important to treat your banana bread batter tenderly.
8. Pour the Batter into Prepared Pans
Spray two bread pans with cooking spray. Once that’s complete, evenly distribute the banana bread batter into the prepared pans.
9. Bake the Banana Bread
Place the bread pans in the pre-heated oven, and bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Watch your loaves closely towards the end to make sure they don’t overcook. You can test for doneness by inserting a toothpick or fork into the loaves. If the toothpick or fork is clean when you remove it, the banana bread is ready to be removed from the oven.
Once the loaves are cool enough to touch, remove from the pans and allow to cool the rest of the way on a wire cooling rack. This method of cooling allows the air to circulate and helps prevent your banana bread from getting soggy.
10. Slice and Serve While Still Warm
Slice the banana bread and serve while it’s still warm. I enjoy serving it with a pad of butter. It’s also great warmed for 30 seconds in the microwave. This amount of microwaving allows just enough time for the butter to melt slightly and sink into the bread. Serve the banana bread with coffee, tea, or milk.
Store the bread in a gallon size baggie, airtight storage container, or covered in plastic wrap. If you can’t consume both loaves within a week, this banana bread with brown sugar and walnuts freezes well for enjoyment at a later date.
Wrap Up
This banana bread with walnuts and brown sugar is a great way to make use of ripe bananas. Not only will your bananas not to go to waste, but you’ll also have delicious bread to enjoy. This recipe yields two loaves, and freezes well if you can’t eat it within a week. Make sure to store your banana bread in an airtight container so it doesn’t dry out too quickly.
If you try this recipe for banana bread with brown sugar and walnuts, let us know your thoughts and suggestions. We love hearing what our readers have to say. Enjoy!