Delicious Copycat Starbucks Banana Nut Bread

Delicious moments are better shared!

As a child, I had a strong fondness for the banana nut Little Bites, which has carried over into my adult years as an appreciation for Starbucks’ banana nut bread.

Whenever I have a craving for something sweet, this bread never fails to satisfy.

Its texture is perfectly moist and airy, accentuated by a delicious crunch. The banana flavor is well-blended with the sugar’s sweetness, and the walnut and pecan combination adds a delightful extra crunch.

BONUS! This is the perfect recipe to make use of those overripe bananas sitting on your counter.

What is the secret to the Starbucks banana nut bread?

The first secret to the Starbucks banana nut bread is the ingredients and the fat ratio to flour.

The ideal combination is one where the ratio of wet and dry ingredients is roughly balanced, 2:1.

The butter and bananas will ensure a moist and rich bread. The ideal mixture is thick and less runny. More flour will lead to dry bread, and more butter and banana will make the bread too wet, making it challenging to form bread without falling apart.

The second secret is the delicious and earthy mix of walnuts and pecans. The combination gives the bread a crunchy texture.

Top Tips

Make sure your bananas are ripe.

Ideally, the banana is incredibly ripe, and the peel has dark spots. And probably a banana you wouldn’t want to eat as a snack. However, you want to ensure the banana peel is not entirely black. Bananas can turn sour and unpleasant. A super-ripe banana is perfect for banana bread or a banana smoothie. Yum. As it ages, the banana becomes sweeter. It takes about 4-5 days for a green banana to turn ripe. 

Technique – Baine Marie

If desired, cook the banana bread using the bain marie or hot water bath. It can help cook the loaf evenly and keep it moist. 

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Salted Butter
• Granulated Sugar
• Vanilla
• Eggs
• Ripened Bananas
• Flour – If you prefer a gluten-free option, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour
• Cinnamon
• Baking Soda – You can substitute baking soda for a different leavening agent like baking powder, potassium bicarbonate, soda water, or self-rising water. It is an ingredient that will expand and allow the bread to rise.
• Baking Powder
• Eggs – You can substitute the eggs with sour cream for richness and moistness. Instead of two eggs, add half a cup of sour cream to the mixture. 
• Chopped walnuts and pecans – if you’re not a fan of nuts, make this recipe without the nuts.

Chocolate Starbucks Banana Nut Bread?

Add a small handful of semi-dark chocolate nibs to your recipe if you love chocolate. Using a rubber spatula, slowly incorporate and mix well.

FAQs

Storage and Reheating

Storage

You can store the banana nut bread in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

You can also slice the bread into individual slices and wrap them to store it longer and make it easy to take. Or you can keep it in a glass container or cover the baking dish before storing it in the fridge. 

Reheating

Take a slice and toast it in a countertop oven or stovetop. A warm slice of banana bread is delicious, but you can also enjoy it at room temperature.

Steps For The Best Copycat Starbucks Banana Nut Bread

Step One

Mix the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl with a whisk to a creamy consistency.

Step Two

Cut the ripe banana, mash it, and mix it with butter and sugar. Then add vanilla extract.

Step Three

Add two whole eggs to the mixture and whisk. 

Step Four

Mix the dry ingredients until the flour has dissolved.

Step Five

Chop whole walnuts into small pieces, add to the mixture, and mix. 

Step Six

Butter a baking dish and add the mix to the baking dish—Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet and bake in a bain-marie to cook evenly. Add water to the baking sheet without getting water in the batter. Bake at 325 degrees for 75-85 minutes. 

Step Seven

Let the banana bread sit for a few minutes before cutting a slice.

Enjoy and serve with a cold iced coffee or your favorite latte.

Starbucks Copycat Banana Nut Bread

Print Recipe

Moist Banana Bread with Walnuts

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword Banana Bread, Banana Nut Bread, Banana Walnut Bread, Best Banana Bread, Starbucks Banana Nut Bread

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 6 people

Calories 356

Author Olga Muñoz

Equipment

• 1 Countertop Smart Oven
• 1 Large Mixing Bowl
• 1 Whisk
• 1 Measuring Spoons
• 1 Chef Knife
• 1 Cutting Board
• 1 Baking Dish
• 1 Baking Pan

Ingredients

• ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
• 8 tbsp Salted Butter
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 3 Whole Bananas Super ripened
• 2 Whole Eggs
• 1½ cup Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• ½ cup Chopped Walnuts
• ½ cup Chopped Pecans
• ½ tsp Ceylon Cinnamon

Instructions

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 325.

  Add the butter and sugar to a large bowl and whisk until creamy.
  
• Step 2

  First, cut the bananas into small pieces and add them to the mixture. Then, use a spoon or fork to mix and mash everything together thoroughly.
  
• Step 3

  Add the eggs, vanilla extract or pure vanilla bean paste, and cinnamon to the mixture and stir until well combined.
  
• Step 4

  Add the dry ingredients and mix all the way through until the flour is completely dissolved.

  Add chopped walnuts and pecans – optional.
  
• Step 5

  Butter your baking dish and add the mixture. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet, place it in the oven, and add water to the baking sheet surrounding the baking dish. Bake 70-85 minutes at 325° until baked through.

  Test the bread with a toothpick or butter knife to ensure it is baked in the middle.
  
• Step 6

  Remove from the oven, let it cool off for 5-10 minutes, and enjoy! Although I love a freshly baked slice of banana nut bread!
  

Notes

Make sure your bananas are ripe.

Ideally, the banana is incredibly ripe, and the peel has dark spots. And probably a banana you wouldn’t want to eat as a snack. However, you want to ensure the banana peel is not entirely black. Bananas can turn sour and unpleasant. A super-ripe banana is perfect for banana bread or a banana smoothie. Yum. As it ages, the banana becomes sweeter. It takes about 4-5 days for a green banana to turn ripe. 

Technique – Baine Marie

If desired, cook the banana bread using the bain marie or hot water bath. It can help cook the loaf evenly and keep it moist. 

NOTE:

It is important to check the bread’s doneness by inserting a butter knife or toothpick into the center as cooking times may differ based on your oven.