What Nuts Go in Banana Bread? (The Best Options to Consider)

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Banana bread is plenty tasty on its own, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spice it up. One great way to make it better is to add some nuts.

When adding nuts to banana bread, are there certain types that work better than others? Read on to learn more about the best options.

What Kind of Nuts Do You Put in Banana Bread?

There are many types of nuts that work well in banana bread. Most traditional recipes make use of chopped walnuts, though.

Chopped walnuts can be used to bake banana bread that has a classic flavor. This is going to be incredibly pleasing to eat, and it’s very simple to find recipes that call for them.

If you love walnuts, they’re definitely a good option, but that’s not to say there aren’t other types of nuts that can work just as well.

Many people love putting macadamia nuts in banana bread. This is another common type of banana bread that you’ll even find being sold in bakeries sometimes.

Pecans can also be used if you enjoy them. Some people even enjoy eating chopped pecans more than walnuts.

Even almonds or hazelnuts can work out in banana bread. You can add pretty much any type of nuts to banana bread so long as they’re chopped properly.

Some types of nuts might be impractical to use because they’re a bit hard. Even so, you can use harder nuts such as almonds if you want to.

What Amount of Nuts Do You Put in Banana Bread?

When adding nuts to banana bread, you want to make sure that you use just the right amount. Too little, and you won’t be able to enjoy the nuts enough.

Putting too many in the batter can also make things turn out wrong. Typically, banana nut bread recipes will call for ½ of a cup of chopped nuts.

This should be enough to bake one standard-sized loaf of banana bread. However, the ingredient amounts might differ based on what recipe you decide to follow.

So it’s best to follow a specific recipe just to ensure that things turn out right. You might even want to look for a recipe that specifically calls for the nuts that you wish to use.

Which Nuts Are Best in Banana Bread?

Most people would say that walnuts are the best in banana bread. This is because it’s the type of nut that most people choose to use.

If you’ve had banana nut bread in the past, you likely had banana walnut bread. This is the most common style that is sold in bakeries and other places.

The best nut to put in banana bread depends on various factors, though. It’s not a question that can truly be answered since the answer is subjective.

Some might say that pecans are the best. Others might prefer macadamia nuts.

You might want to try several different types of nuts to see which one you like best.

Not Everyone Likes Putting Nuts in Banana Bread

Many people don’t like putting nuts in banana bread. Before you decide to put nuts in the batter, it might be wise to check with your friends and family.

If you’re going to share the bread with others, you want to consider their preferences. Also, some people have nut allergies and might not even be able to eat banana bread that has nuts in it.

There are also just people who prefer the natural taste of banana bread. It can be very good without adding anything else to it.

So you’re not obligated to use nuts at all. It’s just that some people think that nuts add extra flavor to the bread and make it better.

This is another thing that comes down to preference. If you love walnuts or pecans, it might be worth it to put nuts in the bread.

If you have someone in your home who isn’t fond of nuts, you can always bake a loaf that doesn’t utilize them. This ensures that everyone can enjoy banana bread instead of some people feeling left out.

Putting Dried Fruit in the Bread

Putting dried fruit in the bread is another thing you can do if you don’t like nuts. Or perhaps you want an alternative option because someone in your family has a nut allergy.

There are different dried fruits that you can try out that will add flavor to the bread. Try going with dates or dried pears if you like them.

Dates are particularly good to add to banana bread because they’re high in antioxidants. It can make the banana bread that you’re baking even healthier.

Other Things You Can Mix Into Banana Bread

Aside from dried fruits and nuts, there are other options to consider. For example, you can mix some chocolate chips into banana bread if you’d like to.

This isn’t going to make the banana bread any healthier, but it can add more flavor. If you’re only worried about enjoying it as a dessert and you’re not concerned about how healthy it is, adding chocolate chips to the mix can be fun.

Otherwise, you might wish to try adding spices to the bread. One excellent option is to put cinnamon in the batter.

Other spices are interesting to try as well. Many people like to put allspice, cloves, and nutmeg in banana bread.

It can make the flavor of the bread a bit strong, and you want to be careful not to use too much. You can even combine two spices, but many prefer sticking to just one spice.

Final Thoughts

Learning more about banana nut bread should help you to understand what is possible. You can add nuts, and you don’t have to limit yourself to choosing from just one or two types.

Walnuts are the most common and popular type of nut that people put in banana bread. However, there are many other types of nuts that people commonly use.

Pecans, macadamia nuts, and more can be excellent options. Picking your favorite type and putting it in the batter is perfectly acceptable.

You might find that some nuts will go better with banana bread than others. Even so, it’s up to you to decide what your favorite is.

There are recipes out there for many different types of nut bread. You can find a recipe that will suit your tastes rather easily.

Enjoy baking banana bread, and be sure to share it with friends and family. Just be sure to check to see if anyone has a nut allergy before offering them the bread.

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