Banana Nut Bread with Maple Syrup and Pecans

Banana Nut Bread with a hint of maple syrup. Yummy pecans add the perfect crunch. Let me show you how to make this delicious quick bread recipe your whole family is going to love.

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2018 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!

Homemade Banana Nut Bread doesn’t get any easier than this delicious recipe!  And what’s even better is there’s a hint of maple syrup added to the batter to further enhance this delicious, moist recipe! 

One of my favorite quick bread recipes is banana bread. It’s the perfect excuse to buy extra bananas just to let them sit on the counter getting ripe to make this recipe. 

This is a quick bread recipe and can easily be adapted to make muffins.  Instead of using a loaf pan, scoop the batter into your favorite muffin pan.  Feel free to substitute walnuts for the pecans if that’s what your family likes.

A fun way to enjoy this recipe is to try baking banana nut bread in a mason jar. Make sure you check out the instructions at the bottom of the post for a fun idea to bake this recipe a little differently!

How to Store Bananas

Here are some helpful tips for storing bananas, because we all hate when they get ripe way too quick, right?

• Never store bananas in the plastic produce bags.
• Always store bananas at room temperature; never in the refrigerator.
• Separate the bananas from the stem when you bring them home.  Place them in a basket or on a plate on your counter individually.
• Wrap the stems of the bananas in plastic wrap.  This will prevent ethylene gas which is produced naturally during the ripening process from reaching other parts of the banana causing them to ripen too quickly.

How to Ripen Bananas Quickly

Here are some helpful tips for ripening bananas quickly…because there are times we need a ripe one immediately to use in a recipe like this yummy quick bread.

• If you need to ripen bananas quickly for a recipe, place the amount needed in a brown paper bag.
• Or you could simply place the bananas near other ripened bananas in a bowl.
• Do not place bananas in direct sunlight.
• If you slice a banana to use in a fruit salad,  you should sprinkle the slices with some fresh lemon juice to prevent the bananas from turning brown.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Loaf Pan
• Cooling Rack
• Batter Bowl – in my new favorite color!
• Bamboo Spoons – I love using these!

Ingredients

Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!

• Flour
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Bananas
• Brown Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• Pure Maple Syrup 
• Butter
• Chopped Pecans – if you don’t have pecans, you can substitute walnuts.

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt then set aside.

How to mash bananas for banana bread

Peel and slice the banana. Place the banana slices into a medium sized bowl. Use either the back of a fork or a potato masher to mash the bananas into the consistency you want for the banana bread.

How to combine the dry with wet ingredients

In a large bowl, add the brown sugar and eggs. Mix until they are just incorporated. Add vanilla, maple syrup, and melted butter, mix again.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing as you add and mix until just incorporated, careful not to over-mix. Gently stir in chopped pecans.

Baking Instructions

Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake 50-60 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.

Tent the pan with foil for the last 20 minutes or so, to avoid too much browning on top.

Let the bread cool, and then serve.

Banana Nut Bread in a Mason Jar

A fun twist on a traditional loaf of banana bread is to bake the batter in mason jars. You need to use wide mouth mason jars in order for this to work correctly.

Prepare the batter as directed in this recipe. Then pour the mixture into wide mouth mason that’s been sprayed with non-stick baking spray.

Make sure you only fill the jars 1/2 way to the top and do NOT put the lids on. You also need to keep the rims clean by wiping off any batter that gets on them. Using a wide mouth funnel helps tremendously!

Place the jars on a baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes of until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Once you remove the jars from the oven, place the lids and rings on top while the bread is cooling. As the jars seal, you’ll hear a light ping sound. You can store the mason jars in the refrigerator for about a week or even freeze them for a few months!

Banana Nut Bread in a Mason Jar makes a great gift too!

Here’s a few other recipes you may enjoy:

• Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
• Pecan Pie Muffins
• Homemade Blueberry Muffins – easy basic recipe that’s ready in minutes!
• Berry Trifle Cake in a Mason Jar