Peanut Butter Banana Bread

A favorite flavor pairing: Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Just when you thought banana bread couldn’t get any better, here comes Peanut Butter Banana Bread, a moist and tender loaf bursting with an irresistible nutty and sweet taste that will become a family favorite in no time.

In our house, we often eat peanut butter spread on fruit–apple slices, pear wedges, and, yes, circles of banana. So one day I thought, why not see what happens when you add beloved peanut butter to beloved banana bread…and what happened is that the bread came out even more moist than my regular banana bread (which is saying something, since that bread is pretty moist), with a tender texture, and a unique flavor that only this pairing can bring.

That unique flavor is enhanced by a hint of spicy cinnamon and the pure maple syrup we add for sweetness; both infuse the peanut butter-banana blend, giving it a depth and richness that is simply delicious. Since I can never have too much peanut butter or too many bananas, I often eat this delectable bread with Banana Peanut Butter Overnight Oats.

Is Peanut Butter Banana Bread Healthy?

Peanut Butter Banana Bread is about as healthy as a banana bread can get. The peanut butter (a good source of heart-healthy fat) and the almond flour contribute great amounts of protein, and using pure maple syrup instead of refined sugar adds to the health benefits. And cinnamon is known to be, among other positive things, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Plus, this bread is gluten free!

Is there a dairy-free version of this recipe?

A popular misconception–and I didn’t know this for a long time–is that eggs are dairy, but they’re not! So this is a dairy-free recipe. However, if you wanted to make a vegan version of Peanut Butter Banana Bread, you could replace the 2 eggs either with 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise (I know this sounds weird, but it really works) or 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce.

INGREDIENTS

2 medium overripe bananas mashed (about 1 cup)
1/3 cup natural unsweetened peanut butter
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 large eggs free-range preferred
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 cups almond flour for a protein-rich base
1 tsp baking soda to help it rise
1 tsp ground cinnamon for a cozy spice note
1/4 tsp sea salt just a pinch
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips dairy-free for a healthier twist
Optional: A handful of crushed peanuts and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt for topping

INSTRUCTIONS

Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a loaf pan with parchment or spray with nonstick.

Mix

In one bowl, whisk bananas, peanut butter, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. Add almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt directly to it. Stir until just combined, then fold in chocolate chips.

Bake

Pour batter into the pan. Optional: top with crushed peanuts, extra chocolate chips, and sea salt. Bake 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

Let your Peanut Butter Banana Bread cool completely, wrap it in plastic wrap, and store it at room temperature for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to a month (let it thaw to room temperature before slicing it).

This won’t be easy, but it’s necessary

The best thing to do to ensure a perfectly moist and flavorful Peanut Butter Banana Bread that slices beautifully is to let it cool completely, wrap it in plastic wrap, and then store it at room temperature overnight before slicing it. I know, I know, that sounds impossible (the aroma alone once you pull it out of the oven is just too tempting). But this process really contributes to making the bread less crumbly and ensuring all the flavors have melded together. You may be mad now, but you’ll thank me later.

Masterful mixing

One of the keys to a perfect Peanut Butter Banana Bread is gentle mixing, just incorporating all of the ingredients together without overdoing it to make sure you don’t end up with a tough dough.

The Riper, the better

Really, really, really ripe bananas are what you want for this recipe because they will provide maximum banana flavor!

Don’t get stuck!

You’ll want to make sure your pan is well-greased so it will be easy to remove the bread, once it’s cooled. You can also line your pan with parchment paper (allow some overhang so you can lift the whole bread out easily)

Serving Suggestions

This Peanut Butter Banana Bread makes a great breakfast (you can even spread it with more peanut butter), a yummy mid-afternoon snack, or a special lunchbox treat. But there are also a surprising number of other ways you can serve this versatile bread.

It is wonderful alongside your favorite brunch mains, like Soft Scrambled Eggs or Easy Omelet or even noodles tossed in Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce. If you’re an Elvis fan, you know he loved a good peanut butter and banana sandwich, often with bacon, so try this bread with a side of Bacon in a Cold Oven. For the adults in your crowd, pair slices of Peanut Butter Banana Bread with Maple Steamed Almond Milk with Bourbon.

This is also a recipe you can change up by adding white chocolate or peanut butter-flavored chips, chopped peanuts or even chopped mini peanut butter cups (yes, I’ve done this and it’s amazing!).