Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (2024)

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This recipe for banana apple bread represents everything great about baking. The combination of ripe bananas, chopped nuts, and sweet apples is to die for!

Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (1)

Banana apple bread with walnuts reminds me of my mother’s Apple Sharlotka Cake. Inspired by mom’s cake, this recipe ups the ante by adding in bananas, walnuts and greek yogurt. The end result is a bread that is ultra-creamy and the perfect compliment to a nice cup of coffee. Don’t forget to slather it in some high-quality butter…

How Do You Keep the Banana Bread Moist?

There’s two key reasons this banana bread recipes gets so ridiculously moist.

  • Greek Yogurt: What makes this bread so special is the use of greek yogurt in the batter. This makes the bread ultra-decadent and helps it stay moist past the first day it is baked. Not to get too science-y, but greek yogurt also helps activate the baking soda in the batter. This process creates a nice, fluffy bread that doesn’t skimp on moisture!
  • Super Ripe Bananas: Using overripe bananas also lends to the moistness of this cake. Make sure your bananas are nearly or all black before you use them for this cake. The darker the skin, the sweeter the banana pulp will be. Trust us, it makes all the difference!

How to Make Homemade Banana Apple Bread

This 10 ingredient banana apple bread recipe comes together in 20 minutes of prep time and a 40 minute bake in the oven.

  • Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour and baking soda.
  • Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, mash the bananas, followed by the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and Greek yogurt. Whisk until smooth.
  • Add in the Apples & Nuts: Next, add in the chopped apples and walnuts.
  • Combine the Dry & Wet Ingredients: Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.
  • Bake the Banana Bread: Spray a 9in.x13in. baking sheet with cooking oil and spread the batter over it evenly. Bake the banana apple bread at 350°F for about 30 minutes and allow it to cool completely. Enjoy!

Hot Tip: Swap the baking sheet out for traditional loaf pans if you’d like.

Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (2)
Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (3)
Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (4)
Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (5)

3 Tips for Perfect Banana Apple Bread

At Momsdish, we love a good banana bread. Here’s our top tricks to ensure your bread is perfectly fluffy and moist.

  • Don’t over mix the batter. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, be careful not to over mix the batter. If you do, it will cause the bread to come out dense.
  • Sift the dry ingredients. If your flour and baking soda have been sitting around in your pantry for awhile, they likely have developed some lumps and clumps. To ensure your bread doesn’t turn out dense, sift the ingredients through a fine mesh sieve.
  • Use the toothpick test. To ensure the center of the bread is cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the bread is ready!
Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (6)

Other Ingredients to Add

You can play around with the different ingredients you add to this bread and make it your very own. Here, find a couple of different ingredients to inspire you.

  • Use different dairy. Swap out the greek yogurt for sour cream, mayonnaise or creme fraiche. The key here is tanginess and the latter fit the bill and add their own unique flavor to the bread.
  • Pop in dried fruits. Add in a scoop of raisins or dried cranberries for a pop of sweetness.
  • Add in some spices. Put a tablespoon of cinnamon, ground cloves, or nutmeg in the batter to make the bread more coffee cake-like.
  • Swap in pears. Exchange apples for pears – any variety will work well!
  • Use your favorite nuts. Use chopped pecans or almonds instead of walnuts.
  • Add more fresh fruit. Like it extra fruity? Add a handful of fresh blueberries or raspberries to your batter.

Storage Best Practices

Banana bread is the perfect make-ahead treat. It stores so well and is even great to keep on hand in the freezer. Here’s all you need to know…

  • Storing: To keep the banana apple bread fresh for up to two weeks, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To keep it fresh for a week, store it on the counter in an airtight container. This will prevent it from drying out!
  • Freezing: If you have a good amount of bread leftover, freeze it! Wrap individual pieces or the entire remaining loaf of the cake in two layers of plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped pieces/loaf into a freezer safe storage bag. The bread will keep up to 4 months in the freezer. Defrost the bread in the fridge when you are ready to chow down.

FAQ

Why did my banana bread come out so dense?

One of the main reasons banana bread comes out dense is the lack of a leavening agent such as baking soda. It’s a key ingredient to make banana bread fluff up!

Why is the center of my banana bread not cooking?

The center of your banana bread is not cooking if you didn’t give it enough time to bake in the oven. It can also be credited to there being a disproportionate amount of wet ingredients to dry ingredients or if you used too much mashed banana.

Why does my banana bread have a bitter taste?

There are several reasons your banana bread can out bitter – 1) the bananas weren’t ripe enough, 2) your baking soda is expired or you added too much, and 3) there were clumps of flour that weren’t mixed in well enough.

Does banana bread rise much?

Banana bread should lift a bit in the center as it bakes. This creates that signature loaf shape and can be credited to both the bananas and the baking soda.

When are bananas ripe enough for banana bread?

While there isn’t a perfect science to gauging the ripeness of bananas for banana bread, the general rule of thumb is the browner the better. The more ripe they are, the sweeter the bread will be.

More Easy Banana Recipes

  • Whole Wheat Banana Bread Recipe – Hearty, whole grain banana bread
  • Banana Oatmeal Cookies – Made with just 3 ingredients!
  • Banana Bread Recipe – Classic, straightforward banana bread
  • Banana Zucchini Bread (with Chocolate) – Hybrid zucchini & banana bread
  • Banana Chocolate Chip MuffinsBanana muffins loaded with semi sweet chocolate chips.
  • Cranberry Banana Oat Muffins – Tangy breakfast muffins

Recipe

Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (7)

Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe

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Servings

30 Servings

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

This banana apple bread recipe takes just 20 minutes to put together. The combo of all the fruits & nuts will have you coming back for slice after slice!

Ingredients

US UnitsMetric

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients.

  • In a large bowl, combine the flour and baking soda.

  • In a separate bowl, mash the bananas.

  • Add the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and Greek yogurt into the mashed banana mixture. Whisk until smooth.

  • Add the chopped apples and walnuts into the mashed bananas.

  • Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir it just until well-combined, being extra careful not to over mix it.

  • Spray at 9in.x13in. baking sheet with cooking oil. Spread the batter over it evenly.

  • Bake the banana apple bread at 350°F for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool to room temperature, slice, and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 176 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Trans Fat 0.003g

Polyunsaturated Fat 4g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 22mg7%

Sodium 66mg3%

Potassium 138mg4%

Carbohydrates 28g9%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 14g16%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 50IU1%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 21mg2%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Posted September 12, 2022

About Author

Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (16)

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.

  1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (17)

    Joan McConnellNov 19, 2023

    Can this recipe be baked in a loaf pan? If so, for how long at what degree?

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (18)

      Natalya DrozhzhinNov 19, 2023

      Hi Joan, I haven't tried making it in a loaf pan. I think I would bake it at 350F for about and hour. The only worry that apples chunks can be a little heavy so I hope it still stays fluffy when its tall. Let me know it goes.

  2. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (19)

    SandiMay 28, 2023

    I added some l
    Pineapple I had opened in the fridge that needed to go! It’s in the oven right now. I used Sucanat sugar for all of the sugar added I didn’t have Greek yogurt on hand so I used sour cream as a substitute. It looks great. I still feel like I used your recipe. I usually always follow first time recipes to the T before I may or may not make any changes..some things just weren’t on hand at a spur of the moment baking moment!

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (20)

      Natalya DrozhzhinMay 28, 2023

      Sandi, thats great to know that it still worked out even with replacements. Thank you for sharing this with me.

  3. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (21)

    MargaretMar 22, 2023

    This is awesome! Just took it out of the oven and let cool and my husband said give it a 5 star, which he rarely does. The only thing I changed was cut back on the white and brown sugar by about half. Definitely will be making this again. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (22)

      Natalya DrozhzhinMar 22, 2023

      Hi Margaret, I am thrilled to hear that the recipe was a success! Thank you for sharing your feedback. Enjoy!!

  4. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (23)

    Debbie A.Sep 14, 2022

    Can I use Lebneh instead of yogurt with this recipe?

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (24)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 14, 2022

      Hey Debbie- I haven't tried. This recipe is flexible with other dairies but labneh is a bit thicker so I'm not sure if it would work! I hope the other substitutes we suggested like mayo, creme fraiche or sour cream are something you can try. Enjoy!

  5. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (25)

    SamanthaSep 12, 2022

    I never thought to add apple chunks to banana bread, but...WOW. Best of both worlds! So moist and delicious.

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (26)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 12, 2022

      Hi Samantha- no need to pick sides, right? Glad you enjoyed our recipe!

  6. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (27)

    KristynSep 12, 2022

    Yum!! The apple & banana flavors work so well together!! And, I love the little crunch you get from the nuts.

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (28)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 12, 2022

      Hey Kristyn- thanks for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed this yummy dessert 😀

  7. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (29)

    JamielynSep 12, 2022

    Love the apple and banana combo! So delicious!

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (30)

      Natalya DrozhzhinSep 12, 2022

      We love it too! Thanks for commenting!

  8. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (31)

    Robert v KrichauDec 26, 2020

    Need a recipe on apple and banana and walnut salad s

    1. Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (32)

      Natalya DrozhzhinDec 27, 2020

      Thanks for recommendation. I will keep it in mind.

Banana Walnut Apple Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you put too much baking soda in banana nut bread? ›

Low and behold the acidic component is in bananas, so any excess baking soda that doesn't help the banana bread rise will react, hence green or blue banana bread slices the next day. Oh and too much baking soda leaves a metallic aftertaste. Not a desireable trait for banana bread.

Why is my banana nut bread falling apart? ›

Using too much flour makes for an extra crumbly bread.

If you're tapping your measuring cup to level out flour as you measure, or you're pushing down the piled-up powder, you'll end up using too much of it. I packed my flour for this loaf, and what I got was a crumbly cake with a dry crust all around.

Why is my banana bread not moist? ›

Moisture is key when it comes to banana bread, and the ratio of flour to banana makes all the difference. If you use too much flour, you'll end up with dry bread. If you don't use enough, your bread will be too wet. The secret is actually in how you measure the flour.

Why is my banana nut bread gooey in the middle? ›

But if you try to use up all your bananas without paying attention to the ratio of other ingredients, your bread can turn out damp, soggy, and mushy. Contrary to what one may think, there is such a thing as using too many bananas in a banana bread.

Does banana nut bread need to be refrigerated after baking? ›

Wrapped well and stored at room temperature, banana bread will last about five days. If stored in the fridge, it should last a full week. A frozen loaf of banana bread will last up to a year in the freezer, wrapped well with storage wrap and aluminum foil.

Is baking soda or powder better for banana bread? ›

Just using baking soda as your leavening agent will work perfectly fine in banana bread in most cases. However, if you don't have any acidic ingredients on hand, like buttermilk, and you're only using a small amount of mashed bananas, you might need to use baking powder.

What happens if I accidentally used baking powder instead of baking soda? ›

Baking powder: Baking powder can be used to replace baking soda, though not at a 1-to-1 ratio. Because the former is not as strong as the latter, it's important to use three times the amount of baking powder as baking soda. Be aware, a slightly bitter, off-putting taste might result from using that much baking powder.

What happens when you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

The experts at Allrecipes list excessive bananas as a common banana bread-making blunder, claiming it could make the bread feel a bit more hefty and moist in the middle. So instead of nice, airy, light bread, you might end up with mushy, dense bread that seems undercooked.

Why is there a hole in the middle of my banana bread? ›

Overmixing is a common problem with quick breads and is certain to happen with an electric mixer. Use only 15 to 20 light hand strokes with a spoon when mixing the combined liquid and combined dry ingredients together.

How ripe is too ripe for banana bread? ›

While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten. Another sign that bananas have gone bad is if they start leaking any fluids. When in doubt, just toss the bananas out.

What makes bread moist and fluffy? ›

Yeast is another critical factor in ensuring your loaf doesn't come out dry. As the dough rises and ferments overnight, it will produce carbon dioxide, which helps to expand the dough and give it a more airy texture.

What to do if banana bread is raw in the middle? ›

It is pretty simple to salvage an undercooked bread and create a decent loaf. Heat the oven to 350 F, return the bread to the oven, and bake for another 10 to 20 minutes. This will work even if the loaf has cooled, which is similar to par-baking bread.

How do you keep banana bread from caving in? ›

Always use relatively fresh baking soda/powder when making banana breads & quick breads (such as pumpkin bread). Using too much baking soda/powder can lead to banana bread sinking issues (as the banana bread might rise too high & collapse back on itself).

Why do nuts sink to the bottom of a cake? ›

It depends on the consistency of your cake batter. You may want to consider letting the cake bake for a little while, then adding the nuts halfway through the baking time. They will likely sink in a little, but not as much because the cake is already half-baked.

What can you substitute for walnuts in banana bread? ›

Try chopped pecans, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, or peanuts. If you prefer, you can also omit the nuts for nut-free banana bread. Cinnamon: A little touch of cinnamon can add something extra if you like an extra punch of flavor. Try starting with ½ teaspoon and go from there.

How to stop things sinking in cakes? ›

The best way to avoid sinking fruit is to toss the fruit in a couple of tablespoons of the flour (just use some from the measured amount for the recipe) to coat it lightly. Once added to the cake mixture the flour coating will thicken the batter immediately surrounding the fruit and help suspend the fruit.

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