Bourbon Banana Bread with walnuts is full flavored, moist, sweet Banana nut bread recipe, and a great way to use older bananas. Try it for a special breakfast like Christmas day or Mother’s Day brunch.
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Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.
What to do with extra bananas?
I often find myself with a couple extra bananas, meaning to eat them. I really do. But, for one reason or another, there they are, sitting on the counter looking all brown and kinda mushy.
Sometimes I’ll take the bananas and make that banana “ice cream” you see all over Pinterest.
Ripe bananas are necessary
Sometimes, when I have time, I’ll make this awesome banana bread.
It’s a moist, tender quick bread with loads of banana flavor. The trick to getting a sweet moist bread is to use really ripe bananas.
Ones that are covered with little brown spots. No green at all.
At that point, the starches in the banana have converted to sugars, and the banana is so sweet, so good.
Take a look at the picture below for the stage of banana I’m talking about. really ripe bananas – loads of brown spots all over & when you pick them up, they’re soft.
changes to the recipe
I’ve been asked about changing up the recipe a few times, so here are some of the suggestions.
can I use different nuts?
Feel free to swap the walnut for you favorite nuts. Pecans would be lovely, and my first choice. Hazelnuts and almonds would also be great.
You could also try these Bourbon Candied Pecans!
other ad-ins
Other add-ins would be great too, like chocolate chips, vegan chocolate chips, or peanut butter chips.
Shredded coconut, blueberries, or raisins would be fantastic as well. I’d recommend 1/2 cup of additional add-ins would be great.
can I use something other than bourbon?
If you don’t like bourbon or don’t have any, yes, you can swap it for another liquor.
Try rum, Whiskey, Irish whisky, honey bourbon, or even Franglico. Or you can simply leave the liquor out of this recipe.
use more bourbon?
If you really like the flavor, you can double the amount of bourbon in the recipe.
topping
I love the banana bread plain, but you could add a topping to it as well.
Try a streusel topping or a dusting of brown sugar before baking. Add some nuts or a banana split in half lengthwise to the top and let them bake in.
My favorite icing recipe (if you want to try it) is a nice basic one that you can embellish if you like. Make it fancy with browned butter or a nice bourbon glaze. Just mix the ingredients together and pour or drizzle over the cooled bread. You may need to add a little more milk to get a thinner icing if desired.
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons milk or cream
- 1 tablespoon liquid like maple syrup, bourbon,
- 1 tablespoon melted butter, optional
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
After baking it, allow it to cool and top it with icing, frosting, or a drizzle of caramel.
changing the size
Instead of making a loaf, make it in muffin pans or cupcake pans for individual servings. Keep an eye on the muffins as the bake, they’ll probably take less time to bake.
You can also bake it in {affiliate link} mini loaf pans to give as gifts.
It also doubles well, keep an eye on baking time if you bake it in a larger pan, as it will probably take a bit more time.
is this gluten free?
This recipe is not gluten free, though I suspect that it would be very easy to swap the all purpose flour for a {affiliate link} one for one flour. Let me know if you try it, I’d love to hear back.
Thanksgiving
I like to serve this bread at Thanksgiving dinner.
I know, that sounds a bit odd, but who doesn’t love banana bread? And, it goes so well on the Thanksgiving table.
Or serve it on the dessert table as a kind of cake.
Great breakfast
You can have any Banana walnut bread recipe leftovers for breakfast the next day too; toast it up and smear some butter on it.
Or, use it as French Toast. So yummy!
Some of my other favorite things to have for breakfast are Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole, Cinnamon Sore Throat Tea, Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, or Homemade Granola.
Other quick bread recipes
Quick breads are great; they don’t take much time or effort. You’ll want to try Cherry Bread, Orange Marmalade Bread, and Best Zucchini Bread.
And don’t ignore yeast breads; they’re amazing and really not that difficult to make. Check out No Knead Parmesan Rosemary Bread and Garlic Tomato Twist Bread.
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Kitchen tools you may need
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9×5 loaf pan
Whisk
Mixing bowls
Hand held mixer
Stand mixer
Toothpicks
Hot pads
Cooling rack
You can bake them in paper loaf pans as gifts
Loaf keeper storage container
Recipe
Bourbon Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon fine grain salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 5 1/3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 2 very ripe bananas mashed
- ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
Instructions
- Have all ingredients at room temperature. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan, and set aside.
- Whisk the dry ingredients (flour through baking powder) together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using a sturdy fork or in a Kitchen-aid until it’s lightened in color and texture. Mix in the flour mixture until well blended and the consistency of brown sugar. Gradually beat in the eggs.
- Fold in the mashed bananas, walnuts, and bourbon. Scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350° F for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 – 10 minutes before unmolding to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Shelly
Turned out really good! Doubled amount of bourbon and next time will add a bit more nuts.
Kelley
Bananas are different sizes, in ounces how much bananas would you use?
Debi
Kelley, I have never weighed my bananas. I use regular grocery store bananas, year-round. A little more or a little less will not make or break this recipe. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an average-sized banana weighs approximately 4 ounces without the skin (approximately 6.5 ounces with the skin) and measures at least 7 inches, but less than 8 inches, in length.
Sadie
I made one directly from the recipe and a second one that subbed honey for sugar and applesauce for eggs and did chocolate chips and they were both awesome! One was lighter while the subbed one was denser and more moist. I added about a 1/2tsp more of baking soda in the subbed one as well.
Cathy
The best banana bread recipe out there, my husband’s absolute favorite.
Julianna Moore
Is there another option if u don’t have bourbon on hand?
Dan Wayland
Julianna, you can leave it out or add in more vanilla
Stacey
I tried this recipe and I am so glad I did. We love it. We are having a fall brunch in October and I will be using this recipe for my banana walnut bread. Thanks