The Ultimate Nutella Swirled Banana Bread: Moist, Easy, and Irresistibly Delicious
This Nutella Banana Bread is a true masterpiece – a soft, incredibly moist banana bread generously swirled with rich hazelnut chocolate spread. What makes it even better? It’s an easy recipe with less than 20 minutes of active prep time, making it perfect for bakers of all levels looking for a delightful treat!
There’s something uniquely comforting about homemade banana bread. This particular recipe elevates that comfort to new heights. It delivers a soft, moist, and incredibly easy-to-make loaf. We achieve that desirable moist, tender crumb by using buttermilk, which reacts beautifully with the baking soda to create a light and airy texture. The bread is subtly spiced, ensuring that the natural sweetness and distinct flavor of the banana truly shine through, perfectly complemented by the decadent Nutella swirl.
If you enjoy a classic, ultra-moist banana bread, you might also love my moist banana bread recipe, which uses sour cream and a hint of lemon zest for a different but equally delicious profile. For those who lean towards warmer, spicier notes, don’t miss this delightful pumpkin bread, or the best of both worlds with my pumpkin banana bread. And for a wholesome twist, these banana bran muffins are a fantastic option.
A Nostalgic Journey into Homemade Goodness
The inspiration for this recipe comes from a place of deep nostalgia and tradition. My Mom and I would make banana bread on the regular when I was growing up. It was a cherished ritual, a scent that filled the kitchen, and a taste of pure comfort. We never waited for it to cool completely; the best part was always grabbing a warm slice right out of the pan, savoring every crumb. That’s just how we roll – and honestly, there’s nothing quite like warm, freshly baked banana bread.
So, when I stumbled upon Dorothy’s Mom’s banana bread recipe at Crazy for Crust, I knew instantly that I had to recreate it. It spoke to that same comfort incarnate. As soon as she mentioned her mom buttered and sugared the pan before baking, I was absolutely hooked. That simple technique, often overlooked, makes an incredible difference, creating a wonderfully crisp, slightly caramelized crust that adds another layer of texture and flavor.
And, yes, sugaring the pan is EVERYTHING. It’s a small step that yields huge rewards, contributing to the loaf’s perfect golden-brown exterior and ensuring it releases cleanly from the pan.
The Secret to a Perfect Crumb: Buttermilk & Bananas
You will absolutely adore this banana bread for its incredibly soft and rich texture, boasting the kind of crumb that only comes from the magical touch of buttermilk. Buttermilk not only contributes to the bread’s moistness but also tenderizes the gluten, resulting in a supremely delicate and melt-in-your-mouth experience.
And that luscious swirl of Nutella on top? That’s my signature touch of decadence. It’s not just for looks; it adds the perfect amount of sweetness, ensuring there’s a hint of hazelnut chocolate in every single bite. Crucially, it’s balanced so that it never overwhelms the delightful banana flavor of the bread. This balance is key, making each slice an addictive indulgence that will have you reaching for more!
Plus, we all know I’ve had a wee bit of a Nutella problem recently, especially after whipping up these amazing Soft Nutella chocolate chip cookies. And you don’t even know the half of it. Let’s just say there was a spoon involved and an empty jar or two. Nutella just has that irresistible quality!
Innovation in Baking: The Blended Banana Method
This recipe incorporates an ingenious step that truly sets it apart: we blend the ripe bananas, eggs, and buttermilk together until smooth before incorporating them into the other wet ingredients. This method brilliantly eliminates the common problem of uneven banana distribution that often plagues other banana bread recipes. No more finding large chunks in one slice and barely any banana in another! The result is a consistently moist, flavorful loaf with banana goodness in every single bite. It’s become my new favorite method for any banana bread recipe, ensuring perfect texture and flavor throughout.
I love that the bananas are the true stars in this quick bread. There are no overwhelming or crazy spices masking the beautiful, natural banana flavor. It’s pure, unadulterated banana perfection, enhanced by the subtle sweetness and richness of the Nutella. The combination is absolutely wonderful and makes this a stand-out recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Essential Tips for Baking Success
- Use Ripe Bananas: The riper your bananas are (think brown spots, but not completely black), the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. They also mash more easily for that perfect blended texture.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until no dry streaks of flour remain. Overmixing can develop the gluten too much, leading to a tough bread.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your eggs and butter are at room temperature. This helps them combine smoothly with other ingredients, creating a more uniform batter and a better final texture.
- The Sugared Pan is Key: Don’t skip buttering and sugaring your loaf pan! It creates a fantastic, slightly crispy crust and prevents sticking, making for an easy release.
- Swirl, Don’t Stir: When adding the Nutella, dollop it on top and gently swirl with a skewer or knife. This creates beautiful ribbons of chocolate hazelnut goodness without fully incorporating it into the banana batter.
- Check for Doneness: Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center (avoiding a Nutella swirl) comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. Ovens vary, so keep an eye on it!
- Cooling is Crucial (mostly): While it’s tempting to dig in immediately (like Mom and I did!), letting the bread cool completely allows it to set properly, making it easier to slice and ensuring the best texture. However, a warm slice with melted Nutella is truly heavenly!
Variations to Try
While this Nutella Swirled Banana Bread is perfect as is, you can certainly experiment with a few additions:
- Chocolate Chips: Stir in ½ cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips with the dry ingredients for extra chocolatey goodness.
- Nuts: Add ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for a delightful crunch. Fold them in with the dry ingredients.
- Spices: For a hint of warmth, you can add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg to the dry ingredients, though I personally love how the banana shines without it.
- Cream Cheese Swirl: For a different kind of decadence, try swirling in softened cream cheese (sweetened with a little sugar) instead of, or in addition to, Nutella.
Nutella Swirled Banana Bread
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Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 medium ripe bananas brown spots but not black
- 2 large eggs
- 7 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ cup Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread be sure to mix up the jar
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan (mine was longer and skinnier with the same volume, so that works too!). Then, pour a little sugar into the bottom of the pan, tap the sugar around until it creates an even, shimmering layer, coating the bottom and sides. Tap out any excess sugar. This creates that wonderfully crisp crust!
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. Ensure these dry ingredients are well combined. Set this mixture aside for later.
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In a blender, combine the ripe bananas, large eggs, and buttermilk. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. This unique step ensures even banana distribution throughout your bread. (I used an immersion blender for this task because I hate my standard blender and find an immersion blender easier for this consistency.) Set this banana mixture aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color. This process incorporates air, which is crucial for a tender crumb.
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Now, gradually combine your mixtures. Pour half of the blended banana mixture and half of the whisked flour mixture into the creamed butter and sugar. Mix with a hand mixer on low speed just until smooth and no dry streaks remain. Repeat this process with the remaining banana mixture and flour mixture. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay. Pour the finished batter evenly into your prepared, sugared loaf pan.
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Time for the decadent swirl! Place several dollops of Nutella (or your chosen chocolate hazelnut spread) on top of the banana bread batter. I typically use about 5 dollops, spaced out. Using a bamboo skewer or a butter knife, gently poke through the Nutella and create swirls on top of the batter. Do not fully incorporate; you want distinct ribbons of Nutella.
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Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center (away from any large Nutella pockets) comes out with a few moist crumbs attached. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
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Once baked, remove the loaf pan from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10-15 minutes. This allows the bread to set before attempting to remove it. Then, carefully invert the bread onto the wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. This ensures the best texture and prevents crumbling.
Notes
Nutrition
Before You Go
Once you’ve tried this incredible Nutella Swirled Banana Bread, you’ll want to explore more delightful breakfast and snack options. Check out all our delicious, pastry chef-created Breakfast Recipes, perfect for starting your day or enjoying a sweet treat. You might particularly love these blueberry banana bran muffins for a wholesome, flavorful alternative!