This Starbucks banana bread recipe is so good, you may never go through the drive-thru again!
When it comes to banana bread, Starbucks has hit it out of the park. Their moist banana bread recipe is soft, rich, and bursting with banana flavor.
There’s a crunch of walnuts in every bite, too, making it even more addictive.
And it’s super easy to make this recipe at home. Plus, it will make your house smell amazing!
So, skip the trip to the drive-thru, and let’s check out this amazing Starbucks banana bread recipe.
Starbucks Banana Bread Recipe
This copycat recipe makes the moistest, most tender, and heavenly banana bread.
Just like the original, this one is packed with super-sweet bananas and topped with chopped walnuts.
Slathered with butter and paired with a hot cup of coffee, this banana bread makes the most delightful breakfast.
The best part is, banana bread is incredibly easy to make! I’m no baking expert, but I was able to nail this recipe on the first try. I’m sure you will, too!
Ingredients
No fancy ingredients here! Just some bananas, nuts, and pantry staples. Here’s everything you need to whip this bread up at home.
- Baking soda. It’s the leavening agent that makes the banana bread rise.
- Egg. Apart from stability and structure, it also helps make the bread extra tender.
- Vegetable oil. Other recipes call for butter, or both butter and oil. But you’ll only use oil for this one. The oil prevents the flour from absorbing water, making the bread incredibly moist and soft.
- Buttermilk. It adds moisture to the bread. Sour cream and yogurt both work well, too.
- Vanilla extract. It enhances the flavor of every baked good!
- Ripe bananas. The key to moist and wonderfully sweet banana bread is over-ripe bananas. I mean super mushy, dark, almost black peel level of over-ripe.
- Chopped walnuts. Another element that makes Starbucks banana bread so irresistible. Walnuts add a wonderful crunch and flavor to the bread.
Tips for Making the Best Banana Bread
This banana bread recipe is super easy, even if you aren’t a skilled baker. And if you follow these tips for success, your bread will be better than Starbucks!
- Speed up ripening. If your bananas haven’t reached that blackened point just yet, there’s a trick to speed up the process. Pop them in the oven! Place them on a lined baking sheet, unpeeled, and bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Smash the bananas well. No one wants mushy banana bits in their bread, so be sure to mash your bananas well. You can use a fork, but to make life much easier, just mash them using an electric mixer or food processor.
- Measure accurately. Use the spoon and level method for the dry ingredients. Don’t just scoop the measuring cup directly into the bag of flour! It will yield more flour than you need.
- Do not over-mix! Mix the dry and wet ingredients carefully with a spatula – not a mixer. Over-mixing will yield dry and dense banana bread.
- Make it chocolatey. Aside from walnuts, you can also top the banana bread with chocolate chips. Bananas and chocolate make a perfect pair!
- Check for doneness. At the 50-minute mark stick a toothpick into the center of the bread. If it comes out clean or a few moist bits are sticking to it, it’s done.
- Let it rest. After it comes out of the oven, don’t take it out of the pan right away. Give it ten minutes to set, otherwise, your bread will be too mushy.
How Long Does Starbucks Banana Bread Last?
Odds are, there won’t be any leftovers. It’s just too good! But in the rare case your loaf lives to see another day, here’s how to keep it fresh.
- To store. Tightly-wrapped banana bread will stay fresh at room temperature for up to two days. When stored in the fridge, it will stay fresh for up to seven days.
- To freeze. Cut completely cooled bread into individual slices and double-wrap each in plastic wrap. Then, transfer them into a freezer-safe bag, squeeze out excess air as much as you can, and seal. It will stay fresh for up to three months.
- To reheat. Thaw it in the fridge or at room temperature until softened and enjoy. Place a slice in the microwave for a few seconds for that fresh-out-of-the-oven flavor.