Ina Garten's Banana Bread Recipe

Ina Garten's Banana Bread Recipe

We're always looking for ways we can be less wasteful so when we saw a set of bananas that needed to go, we knew exactly what to do with them - make Ina's Banana Bread!

This recipe took about 10 minutes to assemble and an hour to bake - it's perfectly easy for anyone, no matter how much experience you have in the kitchen. If you're a newbie, this would impress anyone at the office for the holidays!

We subbed out the buttermilk for sour cream because well, we didn't plan ahead and didn't have buttermilk on hand - but it worked perfectly! We also tripled the vanilla amount because we're a HUGE vanilla family - it wasn't overpowering, it ended up being the perfect flavor. If you love a little more vanilla, try adding an additional 1 or 2 teaspoons - you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter, divided

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

  • 1/4 cup buttermilk (may substitute sour cream or yogurt)

  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (we used this one)

  • 4 soft, overripe mashed medium bananas (about 1 1/2 cups)

Instructions:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C).

  • Grease a 9×5 loaf pan with butter or cooking spray and line it with parchment paper.

  • In a large bowl, combine flour, pecans, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.

  • Whisk eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, brown sugar, and vanilla in a separate, medium bowl. Then, slowly stir the mashed bananas into the mix.

  • Gently stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture in the large bowl. 

  • Pour the batter into the loaf pan and gently tap against the counter to even it out in the pan.

  • Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around an hour. Test it out by sticking a toothpick or knife in the center - if it comes out clean, you're ready to pull the bread from the oven.

  • Let the banana bread to cool for about 10 minutes before removing it from the pan. Turn the loaf onto a wire rack to cool.

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1 comment

I also put in a whole vanilla bean along with the extract and I LOVED it!!

Debbie

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