It’s no secret that banana bread is a fantastic dessert, and being able to enjoy it with friends and family is likely something that you look forward to quite a bit.
If you make this quick bread fairly often, you might be interested in changing things up a bit. Plain banana bread is delicious, but it might be even better by adding certain things into the mix.
Perhaps you’ve never tried adding extras to your recipe before. You might not even be familiar with what the possibilities are.
Below, you’ll learn about various popular banana bread add-ins. This might give you some inspiration so you can make banana bread that will truly delight everyone that you serve it to.
What Can You Add to Banana Bread?
There are many different things that you can choose to put in banana bread. Some people like to put nuts in banana bread, while others might be interested in using dried fruit.
Keep reading to learn about some of the more popular options that people turn to. You can pick out your favorites based on your sensibilities.
Are Almonds Good in Banana Bread?
Almonds can be a very good addition to a standard banana bread recipe. You can also seek out a specific almond banana bread recipe.
Using almonds will give the bread a subtle almond flavor that will truly please many people. You can use cut almonds and almond extract to make a truly tasty dessert.
Are Blueberries a Good Option?
Blueberries are a very common fruit that people like to put in banana bread. Of course, it’s common for people to make blueberry bread without adding bananas as well.
Putting blueberries in banana bread will change the flavor a lot. Some people might not like it, but others will find that it’s a huge improvement.
Whether you’ll want to give this addition a try or not will depend on how you feel about blueberries. The blueberries can complement the banana flavor well if you find a well-balanced recipe.
What About Chocolate Chips?
Chocolate chips will taste delicious when added to a banana bread mixture. This is going to make the dessert a bit less healthy than usual, but it will also make it sweeter.
If you’re someone who loves chocolate, it’s easy to see the appeal of adding chocolate chips. This will boost the bread with a chocolate flavor that goes well with the banana taste.
You can find all sorts of recipes that call for chocolate chips to be added. Just keep in mind that this will also add many calories to the bread.
Are Pecans Good in Banana Bread?
Pecans are among the most popular types of nuts that people regularly put in banana bread. You can add pecans to the bread, and it’ll make the bread even tastier.
Of course, you must enjoy the taste of pecans for this to be a good option. Also, you need to make sure that everyone in your family doesn’t have nut allergies.
This advice rings true no matter what type of nut you’re talking about. Err on the side of caution and check with people before serving them banana bread that contains any types of nuts.
Can You Use Raisins?
Raisins can work excellently in banana bread. You can easily add raisins and have them add to the overall flavor of the dessert.
It’s a good idea to add raisins to the bread if you need more fiber in your diet, too. These delicious little additions can ensure that the bread is chock full of it.
Also, you’ll be getting additional vitamins and minerals. If you like the taste of raisins, don’t hesitate to put them in.
How About Walnuts?
Walnuts are the traditional type of nut that is used in banana bread. It’s far more common to see walnuts being used in banana bread than any other type of nut.
As such, you can expect walnuts to go perfectly with banana bread. This is a tried and true combo that you’re likely going to enjoy.
If you like walnuts, it’s amazing to enjoy them as a part of your dessert. There are hundreds of walnut banana bread recipes out there that you can try if you’re so inclined.
Are There Any Spices That Work Well?
Many different types of spices can be used in banana bread if you want to use them. Some people use spices as a way to alter the flavor of the bread.
Commonly, people like to use warming spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. You don’t have to use spices to make banana bread taste great, but it can add a little something extra.
There are several options that work well in banana bread that you might not think of right off the bat. For example, cloves are known to taste good when added as a spice in a banana bread mixture.
Does Cinnamon Go in Banana Bread?
Yes, cinnamon is a common type of spice that people put in banana bread. This is likely one of the most popular types of spices that people consider using in dessert breads.
You can even combine cinnamon with other types of spices if you want to. Be careful when doing this, though.
It’s not good to use so much spice in the bread that it’ll be overpowering. When using two spices in banana bread, it’s best to use less of each spice than usual.
Is Citrus a Good Option?
Citrus likely seems like an odd choice, but it tastes good in banana bread. The orange flavor goes well with bananas.
It certainly will be a lot different than traditional banana bread, though. This is an option that you might love or loathe, depending on your personal tastes.
Can Peanut Butter Work?
Peanut butter tastes surprisingly fantastic when paired with bananas. You can comfortably add peanut butter to a banana bread recipe and get good results.
You’ll get a type of bread that has a more subtle banana flavor. The peanut butter adds sweetness to the bread, and it’ll please any peanut butter fans in your life.
What About Maple Syrup?
Maple syrup is an interesting thing to add to banana bread. You likely enjoy putting it on pancakes and waffles, but it can also be a great addition to your quick bread.
Doing this will make the bread a lot sweeter than it would otherwise be. Some might find the flavor to be a bit too strong, but others will adore it.
Is Pineapple an Option?
Pineapple is incredibly sweet, and it might be one of your favorite fruits. Will this sweet fruit work fine as an addition to banana bread?
Many people say that pineapple makes banana bread uniquely delicious. Adding some crushed pineapples to the mix can be very enjoyable if you’d like to give it a go.
How About Coconut?
Coconut can be a good addition to banana bread if you want to try it. You see, coconut and banana are two flavors that complement each other well.
Many people choose to add a bit of shredded coconut to the batter. This adds a bit of texture to the bread and also infuses it with extra flavor.
Anyone who enjoys the taste of coconut will like giving this a shot. It should be a pleasing way to spice up a plain recipe.
Or Dried Fruit?
Putting dried fruits in banana bread is common. So many people love putting dates in their banana bread.
You can use other types of dried fruits, such as raisins, cranberries, and even apricots. It adds flavor to the bread and simply makes it more interesting to eat.
Zucchini?
Zucchini bread is a tasty treat all by itself. Combining zucchini with banana bread is a great idea.
You can enjoy incredibly moist bread if you choose to use zucchini. Just be sure to seek out a balanced recipe so everything will turn out right.
Or Pumpkin?
Most people love the taste of pumpkin, and it’s especially popular during the fall. If you’d like to put a bit of pumpkin in your banana bread, it’s fine to do so.
You can add pumpkin to the batter to make the bread that much richer. You’ll be left with a moist type of banana bread that tastes perfect in the fall.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned about so many things that you can add to banana bread. There are various fruits, nuts, spices, and other things that can work perfectly in banana bread recipes.
Perhaps you just want to go with a traditional option, such as walnuts. Or maybe you’d like to try something unusual such as using maple syrup.
Don’t hesitate to experiment with flavors that you know you enjoy. Find a recipe that calls for the ingredient that you’re interested in, and you might very well be pleased with the results.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.