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Welcome to our banana celebration! We love the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with the comforting aroma of fresh baked goods. So why not celebrate banana bread? And along with our most popular Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe, we’ve got some pretty wild flavor variations, including snickerdoodle and birthday cake.
Versatility is king with banana-based desserts, and we’ve developed an array of variations over the years. Some are slight variations on the theme, such as honey whole wheat banana bread, but others push the banana peel, so to speak. And, from unexpected flavors (Red Velvet? Yes.) to different formats (can you say Banana Bread Donuts? YES!).
But first, let’s talk about that main ingredient. 🍌❤️🍞
What Exactly Is Banana Bread?
Is it cake or is it bread? Well, banana bread strikes the perfect balance between cake and bread. It’s a moist, flavorful loaf that is easy to prepare like cake but has a dense chewiness that earns it the bread moniker.
- The Basics:
- Ingredients: Ripe bananas are the star of the show. Their natural sweetness infuses the bread, while flour, eggs, butter (or oil), and sugar create the structure and flavor.
- Texture: Banana bread is tender, slightly dense, and wonderfully moist. The banana chunks add delightful pockets of sweetness.
- Flavor: Expect a warm, banana-forward taste with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. It’s like a cozy hug in every bite.
- Versatility:
- Add-Ins: Get creative! Chocolate chips, chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans), or dried fruit (raisins or cranberries) can elevate your banana bread.
- Variations: Try whole wheat banana bread, vegan versions, or even swirl in some Nutella for an indulgent twist. We’ll provide a lot of options.
Those Bananas in Banana-Based Desserts
Choose Ripe Bananas: Start with bananas that are ripe or slightly overripe. The skin should be yellow with brown spots. The riper the banana, the sweeter and easier it will be to mash. And if you didn’t plan ahead, we wrote a post about how to ripen bananas quickly.
Our Favorite Banana Bread Recipes
First, we have to start with two recipes, one if the most popular recipe on our entire site, the other is the best classic banana bread … ever. As a result, we can’t celebrate banana bread without them!
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This finely tuned recipe is a perennial favorite here at Something Swanky. And for good reason. This banana bread is moist, fluffy, and loaded with chocolate chips. Accordingly, it is perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Plus, it is super simple to make with just a few ingredients and a bowl.
The BEST Banana Bread Ever
This is not just any banana bread. This is magic banana bread. THE BEST banana bread in the whole entire world ever. It has a moist, tender crumb that pairs with the crunch of walnuts in the most beautiful contrast of textures to have ever happened in a bread.
Variations on the Banana-Based Desserts Theme
Whole-Grain Banana Bread
This Whole-Grain Banana Bread is the King Arthur Flour-declared 2018 Recipe of the Year! And for good reason. The whole wheat flour gives this bread a hearty texture and flavor.
Honey Whole Wheat Banana Bread
Whole wheat banana bread is a great healthy option that doesn’t compromise on taste. What’s healthy? Four bananas, NO OIL, whole wheat flour, and sweetened with honey.
One Banana Bread Recipe
Yes, you can make banana bread with only ONE BANANA! This ONE Banana Bread recipe is our favorite for those times when you’re stuck with that one lonely, overripe banana on the counter.
Reese’s Cup Peanut Butter Banana Bread
This bread is dangerously delicious. If you love peanut butter and chocolate (and banana bread!), then you are in the right place, friends. …or the wrong place. Depending on your self control.
Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
Moist, thick, and bursting with aromatic flavors like cinnamon and nutmeg. This family recipe has FOUR bananas, which adds a lot of moisture and is topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans.
Lemon Poppyseed Banana Bread
Somehow the flavors just marry together, and you get both the banana and lemon-y taste in every bite. It’s like eating spring-time in bread form! This bread would be delicious with a glaze or a dusting of powdered sugar too… you know, if you happen to like things extra suh-weet.
🍋🍋🍋 Lemon fan? Check out this roundup of our best LEMON DESSERTS! 🍋🍋🍋
Banana Bread: The Outliers
Snickerdoodle Banana Bread
How do you improve on a classic banana bread loaf? Add a subtle swirl of cinnamon sugar through the center and a not-so-subtle crispy sugary coating on the outside.
Peanut Butter Oreo Banana Bread
Chocolate, peanut butter, Oreo, and banana lovers– this bread is for you! You can’t take a bite without getting a mouthful of cookies and cream.
Birthday Cake Banana Bread
This banana bread is perfect for a special birthday breakfast or just a fun way to use up those old bananas! Incredibly moist, easy to make, and so much fun.
Brownie Mix Banana Bread
Yes, you read that right. It’s fudgy. Really, really, brownie-like fudgy. But banana bread at the same time. Which is, of course, a match made in heaven! We hope you love this as much as we do! 🙂
Scotcheroo Banana Bread
Peanut butter + butterscotch + chocolate is like a million times better than just peanut butter OR butterscotch OR chocolate. More than mildly obsessed here.
Red Velvet Banana Bread
Like… where-have-you-been-all-my-life kind of good. Cake mix gives the bread a distinct red velvet flavor. And this bread so moist — not to mention beautiful!
Nutella Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
The Nutella flavor may be subtle (at least to Nutella enthusiasts like us), but it definitely adds an extra layer of chocolate flavor to the bread. Which makes it just perfect.
Banana Streusel, Muffins and Cake!
Brown Sugar Banana Streusel
Brown sugar really amps up the moist factor, and it has a coffee cake-like streusel on top. Once you a little vanilla glaze drizzle to make it taste like you’re biting into a giant cinnamon roll.
Banana Nut Muffin
Banana nut muffins are the perfect solution when you want a sweet banana-infused treat for breakfast. Your entire family will love our unique recip
The Donuts
Samoas Banana Bread Donuts
Who says banana bread has to come in a loaf? These moist banana bread donuts are baked to perfection, dipped in chocolate, and smothered with coconut and caramel. The banana bread reincarnation of Samoas.
Banana Bread Donuts
Last, but SO NOT LEAST, these moist banana bread donuts are baked, not fried! So simple to make and so delicious with a rich chocolate glaze on top.
More Creative Banana-Based Desserts
The party doesn’t stop with breads, muffins and cupcakes.
Check out our list below for some banana-based desserts that you may have never even heard of before!
Banana Pudding Cake
Banana pudding also forms the basis of another deliciously creative banana-based dessert. We promise you will not regret fiving our recipe for banana pudding cake a whirl!
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookie
Did you even know that there’s such a thing as a banana chocolate chip cookie? Well, there is! And once you try our recipe, you’ll be thanking us for introducing you to this delightful treat!
Peanut Butter Banana Cupcakes
If you’re looking for something a bit more creative (albeit a smidge more challenging), try our peanut butter banana cupcakes! We promise they’re well worth the effort.
Cream Cheese Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
And as long as you’re combining ingredients that don’t often go together, why not try our cream cheese banana chocolate muffins recipe? Your family is sure to be pleasantly surprised!
