Pumpkin AND bananas join forces in this tasty bread! Pumpkin Banana Bread is a great fall treat and your house will never smell so good.
I feel I should open a facility for aging bananas in my home because they are always hanging around. We eat bananas, but we also apparently ignore them. The good thing about this dilemma is that there are so many delicious things to do with ripe bananas!
Fall is approaching, so I had the thought to add pumpkin to my aging-banana dilemma. I really had no idea how this Pumpkin Banana Bread would turn out and I was so pleasantly surprised when it came out of the oven.
Look at this loaf of bread! It is tall and perfect and pretty and cooked evenly throughout. And the taste! The banana and pumpkin make it so incredibly moist and tasty. The chocolate chips on top add a little special something, but feel free to leave them out. I’m in love. This is one of the best breads I’ve ever made. My boys both walked upstairs from the basement while it was baking and said at the same time, WHAT IS THAT DELICIOUS SMELL?!
HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN BANANA BREAD
STEP 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
STEP 2
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well. Gradually add to the butter mixture and beat on medium-low speed until just combined. Stir in 1 cup of pumpkin puree and mashed bananas.
STEP 3
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading in an even layer. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let sit in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. removing and serving.
RECIPE TIPS: MAKE THE BEST EVER PUMPKIN BANANA BREAD
Allowing the bread to cool completely to room temperature will ensure that it keeps its shape, but serving just a little bit warm with a pat of butter is ohhhh so delicious!
Make sure your bananas are nice and ripe before mashing them and adding them to the batter. Unripe bananas will not produce a moist and perfectly baked bread.
This bread is best served solo or with a simple pat of butter.
IS CANNED PUMPKIN AND PUMPKIN PUREE THE SAME THING?
Canned pumpkin is straight-up pumpkin that has been put into a can. Some pumpkin puree contains other ingredients that flavors it, making it pumpkin-pie ready. Read your labels to see what you’re getting in your next can of pumpkin!
SUBSTITUTE FOR PUMPKIN PUREE
Equal parts of cooked, mashed sweet potatoes or butternut squash is a great substitution and you might not even be able to tell the difference!
HOW TO STORE BANANAS
Leave bananas in their cute little bunches on the counter or hanging from a banana tree. Keeping the bananas at room temperature is optimal for bananas that are not yet past their prime. Some grocery stores will do this for you, but if you wish to extend the life of the banana wrap the stems in plastic wrap.
Once bananas start to show signs of ripeness (brown or even black spots), throw them into the fridge if you know you’ll be using them in a recipe in the next few days. If you don’t have a plan in the near future for overly ripe bananas, put them in the freezer instead.
Before you freeze ripe bananas, it is ideal to remove them from the peel first. It also works to just toss the entire banana in the freezer, if you don’t want to mess with a peel at this point. When you are ready to use them in a recipe, allow them to thaw completely before mashing and adding them to your next batch of banana bread.
QUICK BREAD RECIPES
Reese’s Banana Bread – Add Reese’s peanut butter cups to Banana Bread to make it a delectable treat! You’ll never look at a loaf of banana bread the same ever again.
Best Beer Bread – This is the easiest, most delicious Beer Bread recipe you will find! Only a handful of ingredients are required for this no-fail, flavorful loaf of bread.
Blueberry Zucchini Bread – This bread does not disappoint! It is super moist and delicious!
DELICIOUS PUMPKIN RECIPES
I hope you enjoy these delicious pumpkin bars! Did I mention how good your house will smell while they’re baking? For more delicious pumpkin fall treats, check out these delicious recipes!
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread – Give those chilly fall days a slice of heaven!
Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting – Introducing the only Pumpkin Cookie recipe you’ll ever need in your life. These cookies are DELICIOUS and so soft, pillowy, light and fluffy. The Cream Cheese Frosting complements them absolutely perfectly. This is the perfect easy dessert to bring to any fall gathering!
Chocolate Cream Cheese Pumpkin Cake – Chocolate Cream Cheese Pumpkin Cake = fluffy pumpkin cake with cream cheese and chocolate. Great dessert for fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving parties!
Pumpkin Pie Bars – If you want a Pumpkin Pie without the hassle, make your pumpkin pie into bars instead! Each buttery bite of the tasty shortbread crust is perfect with the creamy pumpkin. They are just as delicious as pie but without the extra work.
WHAT TO DO WITH RIPE BANANAS?
Are you like me and constantly finding a fruit bowl filled with ripe bananas? It works well to throw them into the freezer to thaw and use at a later time, or you can mash them up and throw them into one of these delicious recipes!
Best Banana Bread – This Banana Bread recipe is tried, tested, delicious and EASY! Great way to use up those ripe bananas staring at you from your counter!
Banana Bars with Maple Brown Sugar Frosting – These Banana Bars are in my Top 3 list of Best Desserts Ever. These are TO DIE FOR and the best way to use up ripe bananas, in my opinion.
Banana Crumb Muffins – This Banana Crumb Muffins recipe is a delicious way to use up ripe bananas. You will love the crumb topping with brown sugar as an afternoon treat on these tender muffins. So tasty you may want to find friends to send them too! Otherwise be prepared to eat them all yourself!
Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies – Adding bananas to Chocolate Chip Cookies is a great way to use up ripe bananas! These cookies are super moist and delicious!
Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Banana Bread – This is my favorite delicious twist on Banana Bread! Cream cheese makes EVERYTHING better.
Reese’s Banana Bread – Add Reese’s peanut butter cups to Banana Bread to make it a delectable treat! You’ll never look at a loaf of banana bread the same ever again.
Orange Banana Smoothie – This Orange Banana Smoothie is refreshing and delicious and packed with healthy ingredients. Great way to squeeze in a few servings of fruit and vegetables to start your day!
Pumpkin Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened (1 stick)
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 ripe bananas mashed
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), combine the butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. Mix well. Gradually add to the butter mixture and beat on medium-low speed until just combined. Stir in the pumpkin and bananas.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading in an even layer. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let sit in the pan for 10 minutes before removing and serving.
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