Are you craving a comforting, homemade treat that's both delicious and surprisingly easy to make? Look no further than this Banana Nut Bread with Pineapple recipe! This moist and flavorful bread combines the sweetness of ripe bananas and pineapple with the satisfying crunch of walnuts, creating a perfect balance of textures and tastes. It's the ideal quick dinner dessert, a perfect addition to a brunch spread, or a delightful anytime snack. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, this recipe is perfect for you. Let's get baking!
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
- ½ cup crushed pineapple, drained
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions:
Get started: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. This ensures your banana nut bread will bake evenly and release easily.
Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This simple step ensures that all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed, preventing pockets of baking soda from creating an off-taste.
Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and both sugars until light and fluffy. This is best done with an electric mixer, but you can certainly do it by hand if you prefer a little arm workout! Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay. Overmixing can result in a tough bread.
Fruit and Nuts: Gently fold in the mashed bananas, crushed pineapple, and chopped nuts. The gentle folding action prevents the fruit and nuts from becoming overly mashed or broken.
Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the bread from becoming soggy.
Tips for the Best Banana Nut Bread:
- Use ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. Overripe bananas are ideal!
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough bread. Mix until just combined.
- Check for doneness: Use a wooden skewer or toothpick to check if the bread is baked through. If it comes out clean, it's ready.
- Cool completely: Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing and serving. This allows the bread to set properly.
Variations:
- Add chocolate chips: For an extra decadent treat, add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the batter.
- Use different nuts: Feel free to substitute other nuts, such as pecans or macadamia nuts, for the walnuts.
- Add spices: Experiment with different spices, such as nutmeg or allspice, for a unique flavor profile.
- Make it gluten-free: Substitute gluten-free all-purpose flour for the regular flour.
Nutritional Information (per slice, approximate):
Calories: Around 250-300 Fat: Around 10-12g Carbohydrates: Around 35-40g Sugar: Around 15-20g Protein: Around 4-5g
This nutritional information is an estimate and may vary depending on the specific ingredients used. Enjoy your delicious and easy banana nut bread with pineapple! It’s a perfect example of how homemade cooking can produce truly delicious dishes. This simple recipe is sure to become a new favorite among your healthy meal options and quick dinner ideas. It’s a testament to the power of easy recipes and a great addition to your best recipes collection.