Are you looking for a quick and delicious way to use up ripe bananas? Then, this Easy Banana Nut Bread recipe is the perfect choice!
For this banana nut bread recipe, we use boxed cake mix as the base, which makes it moist and flavorful. I love having this on hand for a quick breakfast option or snack. It’s also great for sharing at potlucks, brunches, and various gatherings. Please note that you will need two 9″ loaf pans for this recipe
Banana Ripeness
Make the most out of your banana nut bread by choosing the right bananas. Remember, they will need to be ripe. That means the skins should have brown spots, which indicate sweetness. The flesh should be soft, but not mushy. You can also use slightly darker bananas for a more intensely flavored bread.
Customize Your Banana Bread
What I love about this family-friendly recipe is that it is easily customizable! Here are some great ways to change it up.
- Make it gluten-free: Make a quick banana bread with GF cake mix. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water to thin the batter, then bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Add chocolate: Substitute the nuts with 3/4 cups of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips.
- Change the cake mix: Make chocolate banana nut bread! Simply swap out the yellow cake mix for chocolate, and voila! You’ll have a decadent dessert or snack for any occasion!
- Nuts: Substitute the walnuts with chopped pecans.
- Add spices: Stir 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg to brighten the flavor of the banana nut bread.
- Make muffins instead: Use the batter to make up to 12-15 muffins.
- Skip the oil: Substitute 1/4 cup plain whole-milk yogurt for the oil in this recipe for a lighter, moister banana nut bread.
- Vegan: Use 1/4 cup of applesauce per 1 large egg. For this recipe, you will need 1/2 cup to substitute for 2 large eggs.
Ingredients
- 1 13.25-ounce box of moist yellow cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup oil
- 3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
How to Make Banana Nut Bread
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease two loaf pans and set aside.
- Mash the peeled bananas in a large mixing bowl.
- Next, whisk the eggs, oil, and bananas together until well combined.
- Whisk in the cake mix and the chopped nuts.
- Pour half of the batter into one loaf pan, and add the remaining batter to the other.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the banana bread cook for 1 hour before removing then from the loaf pans, slicing, and serving.
- Store leftover banana nut bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Topping for Banana Nut Bread
This moist and delicious bread can be enjoyed on its own, but adding a topping will make it even more delicious! Here are some suggestions:
- Butter
- Peanut or Almond Butter
- Cream Cheese
- Honey
- Fruit Jam or Jelly
- Ice Cream (vanilla or butter pecan is stunningly delicious on this!)
- Caramel Sauce
- Hazelnut Spread
More Recipes to Enjoy!
Easy Banana Nut Bread (Box Cake Recipe)
Equipment
- 2 standard-sized loaf pans
Ingredients
- 1 13.25-ounce box of moist yellow cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup oil
- 3 ripe bananas peeled and mashed
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease two loaf pans and set aside.
- Mash the peeled bananas in a large mixing bowl.
- Next, whisk the eggs, oil, and bananas together until well combined.
- Whisk in the cake mix and the chopped nuts.
- Pour half of the batter into one loaf pan, and add the remaining batter to the other.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the banana bread cook for 1 hour before slicing and serving.
- Store leftover banana nut bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Notes
- Make it gluten-free: Make a quick banana bread with GF cake mix. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water to thin the batter, then bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Add chocolate: Substitute the nuts with 3/4 cups of semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips.
- Change the cake mix: Make chocolate banana nut bread! Simply swap out the yellow cake mix for chocolate, and voila! You’ll have a decadent dessert or snack for any occasion!
- Nuts: Substitute the walnuts with chopped pecans.
- Add spices: Stir 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and nutmeg to brighten the flavor of the banana nut bread.
- Make muffins instead: Use the batter to make up to 12-15 muffins. Skip the oil: Substitute 1/4 cup plain whole-milk yogurt for the oil in this recipe for a lighter, moister banana nut bread.
- Vegan: Use 1/4 cup of applesauce per 1 large egg. For this recipe, you will need 1/2 cup to substitute for 2 large eggs.
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