Banana Nut Bread Recipe from Betty Crocker’s 1980 Cookbook

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: oat flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber and nutrients.

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil is dairy-free and adds a subtle flavor.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey is a natural sweetener with a unique taste.

chopped nuts

🥗Healthier: seeds

💰Cheaper: dried fruit

Seeds provide crunch and are nut-free for allergies.

Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper by tracing around the pan and cutting it out.

Spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Chop the walnuts into large chunks, aiming for about 1.5 cups.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spread the walnuts on a large cookie sheet and roast them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, checking after 5 minutes.

Mash the 3 bananas with a fork, leaving them a bit chunky.

Remove the walnuts from the oven once they are lightly browned and fragrant.

Measure out 2.5 cups of flour and set aside.

Add 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the flour.

Add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to the mixture and whisk everything together.

Add 3 tablespoons of oil, 1/3 cup of milk, 1 egg, 1/2 cup of white sugar (slightly less than the full amount), and 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the dry ingredients.

Add the mashed bananas and toasted walnuts to the mixture and stir everything together until combined.

Beat the batter for 30 seconds until well mixed.

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan and smooth it out.

Mix 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle it on top of the batter if desired.

Bake in the preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a couple of crumbs.

Let the bread sit in the pan for a couple of minutes before removing it.

Run a knife around the edges to loosen the bread from the pan and remove it.

Remove the parchment paper and place the bread on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens