Description
This Nutella Banana Bread is a deliciously moist and flavorful quick bread infused with ripe bananas and swirled with rich chocolate hazelnut spread. Perfect as a sweet breakfast treat or afternoon snack, it combines the natural sweetness of bananas with creamy Nutella for an irresistible twist on classic banana bread.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature (plus more for greasing the pan)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 4 large bananas)
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Additional
- 2/3 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (I use Nutella)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with butter and set aside to ensure the bread doesn’t stick.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon until they are well combined. This ensures even distribution of leavening agents and spices.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a mixer on high speed, cream the softened butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. This step incorporates air, helping the bread to rise.
- Add Eggs and Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, mixing on medium speed after each addition. Then mix in the mashed bananas, Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract until just combined.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Combine with a rubber spatula or mixer on low speed, being careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Prepare the Nutella: Place the Nutella in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for about 15 to 20 seconds until it becomes easy to drizzle. Stir once or twice during microwaving to loosen it up, but avoid overheating to prevent burning.
- Layer Batter and Nutella: Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the surface. Drizzle half of the melted Nutella over it, then gently swirl with a knife. Pour the remaining batter on top, smooth it out, and drizzle the remaining Nutella. Swirl again to create patterns, avoiding thick Nutella in the center so the bread can rise evenly.
- Bake the Bread: Place the loaf pan in the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. About 30 minutes into baking, cover the loaf loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 20 minutes. Then carefully remove the loaf from the pan and allow it to cool further before slicing and serving. Enjoy your Nutella Banana Bread warm or at room temperature!
Notes
- Use overripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter once dry ingredients are added to maintain a tender crumb.
- Microwave Nutella carefully to prevent burning; stir after 10 seconds if needed.
- Swirling Nutella throughout the batter adds beautiful marbling and preserves texture.
- Loosely cover with foil after 30 minutes to prevent excess browning.
- Allow the bread to cool before slicing to ensure clean cuts and better texture.
