Each loaf of this Blueberry Walnut Banana Bread is packed with four bananas and a cup each of walnuts and blueberries. It’s no wonder it disappears so quickly!
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Original content posted May 2019. Updated July 2021.
Blueberry season is here and I’m taking full advantage of each and every day of it, it seems. I’m kicking myself for not thinking of this Blueberry Walnut Bread before now as it was an instant hit with everyone at our house. Even the two picky eaters who claim to hate blueberries. Go figure!
What Other Fruit Can I Add to Banana Bread?
This blueberry banana bread recipe is a take of my crazy popular Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Bread that so many of you love. It’s one of our favorites, too! By simply substituting blueberries for the chocolate, you’re left with the most tender and moist banana bread to ever cross your lips.
TIP: If you’re looking for a delicious autumn bread recipe, check out my Chocolate Chip Walnut Pumpkin Bread.
When is the Growing Season for Blueberries?
You can enjoy fresh blueberries year-round! In North America, blueberry season and harvest runs from April to late September. The rest of the year, store shelves are stocked with imported blueberries.
My grocery delivery orders as of late have all included another package of blueberries as can’t get enough. I’m either snacking on them or I’m using them in recipes like my One Bowl Blueberry Brownies or Yogurt Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins. My favorite berries have been purchased at Costco from the Family Tree Farms brand.
Can You Freeze Banana Bread?
I typically make two loaves of this Blueberry Walnut Banana Bread at a time as the first is devoured so quickly. I try to put the second in the freezer for a later date, but I’ll admit that it often doesn’t make it there.
If you have better luck than I do, you definitely can freeze a loaf of this banana bread by wrapping it tightly with foil and placing in a freezer bag. I like using my reusable silicone food bags for this task.
How to Make Blueberry Walnut Banana Bread
[1] In the bowl of an electric mixer, add butter and sugar.
[2] Cream together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
[3] Add eggs and bananas to mixing bowl.
[4] Mix on medium speed until combined.
TIP: I like to leave some larger pieces of banana in my batter so that they’re visible and provide a punch of banana to the finished bread.
[5] Add flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla to mixing bowl.
[6] Mix on low speed until just combined.
TIP: You want to mix only until the separate ingredients are barely visible as you’ll continue to stir to mix in the walnuts and blueberries in the next step. If you over mix the batter, it will result in a more dense and chewy bread.
[7] Add walnuts and blueberries to mixing bowl.
[8] With a spatula, fold in walnuts and blueberries until just combined.
TIP: Folding is another name for very gently stirring that’s typically done with a rubber spatula until ingredients are just incorporated. The goal is to avoid deflating delicate ingredients by making broad, scoop-like movements from the inside of the bowl outwards.
The more you handle the batter gently, the more tender your bread will be!
[9] Pour batter in a greased and parchment lined loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Turn oven off and leave bread in oven for additional 15 minutes.
TIP: To form a parchment paper sling for your bread, cut a length of parchment paper long enough to line the bottom of the pan with extra hanging over the sides. If your parchment is longer than your pan, fold the extra under.
Press a crease in the parchment at the edges, so it fits snugly into the bottom. Spray non-stick cooking spray directly onto the bottom and sides of the pan and set the parchment on top. This will help the parchment stick to the pan, keep it from moving as you pour in the batter, and prevent batter from oozing between the parchment and the pan.
[10] OPTIONAL: If you want you Blueberry Walnut Banana Bread to look like it came straight from the bakery, I love to dot the top with additional fresh blueberries and a sprinkle of chopped walnuts.
If you’ve tried this Blueberry Walnut Banana Bread or any other recipe on Melanie Makes, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you and respond to each and every comment!
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Blueberry Walnut Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs beaten
- 4 ripe bananas
- 1-1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, add butter and sugar. Cream together on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs and bananas to mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed until combined.TIP: I like to leave some larger pieces of banana in my batter so that they’re visible and provide a punch of banana to the finished bread.
- Add flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla to mixing bowl.
- Mix on low speed until just combined.TIP: You want to mix only until the separate ingredients are barely visible as you’ll continue to stir to mix in the walnuts and blueberries in the next step. If you over mix the batter, it will result in a more dense and chewy bread.
- Add walnuts and blueberries to mixing bowl.
- With a spatula, fold in walnuts and blueberries until just combined.TIP: Folding is another name for very gently stirring that’s typically done with a rubber spatula until ingredients are just incorporated. The goal is to avoid deflating delicate ingredients by making broad, scoop-like movements from the inside of the bowl outwards.The more you handle the batter gently, the more tender your bread will be!
- Pour batter in a greased and parchment lined loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 55 minutes. Turn oven off and leave bread in oven for additional 15 minutes.TIP: To form a parchment paper sling for your bread, cut a length of parchment paper long enough to line the bottom of the pan with extra hanging over the sides. If your parchment is longer than your pan, fold the extra under. Press a crease in the parchment at the edges, so it fits snugly into the bottom. Spray non-stick cooking spray directly onto the bottom and sides of the pan and set the parchment on top. This will help the parchment stick to the pan, keep it from moving as you pour in the batter, and prevent batter from oozing between the parchment and the pan.
- OPTIONAL: If you want you Blueberry Walnut Banana Bread to look like it came straight from the bakery, I love to dot the top with additional fresh blueberries and a sprinkle of chopped walnuts.
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