Instead of slathering peanut butter on your banana bread, bake it right in! This Peanut Butter Banana Bread is tender and moist, with lots of nutty flavor in every bite.

Sliced loaf of peanut butter banana bread

Do you love a peanut butter and banana sandwich? Relish the opportunity to dip banana into a jar of peanut butter? Well, then you’re going to LOVE this peanut butter banana bread. It takes that classic combination and mashes it up (literally) into a moist, delicious loaf of banana bread. 

Some Banana Bread recipes fall squarely into dessert territory (ahem: Double Chocolate Banana Bread), while others, like Banana Nut Bread feel wholesome enough to eat for breakfast. This peanut butter banana bread comfortably fits into both categories, so you can eat it all day long (and you will want to!). 

The best part? It’s ridiculously easy to make! The steps involved are the same as any basic quick bread recipe, so even beginning bakers can whip it up easy peasy.

Overhead view of ingredients for peanut butter banana bread

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.

  • Granulated Sugar – This adds sweetness, of course, but sugar also helps make (and keep) the banana bread moist.
  • Creamy Peanut Butter – Use the kind that doesn’t need to be stirred or refrigerated—AKA not the natural kind. While natural peanut butter is delicious slathered onto banana bread, it’s not good for baking into it because the consistency can vary so much.
  • Mashed Ripe Banana – You’ll need about 3 bananas, but go by measurement, not by number. 
  • 2% Milk – Or another milk you have on hand.
  • Plain Fat-Free Greek Yogurt – You can swap in sour cream if preferred.
  • Eggs – Let these come to room temperature before you start the recipe. 
  • All-Purpose Flour – Although I haven’t tested it myself, I think a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour would also work.
  • Baking Soda – The leavening agent to help the bread rise.
  • Kosher Salt – Enhances the overall flavor of the bread.
  • Mix In Options – Chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, and/or marshmallow fluff (to swirl on top).
Overhead view of batter in parchment-lined loaf pan for peanut butter banana bread

How to Make Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full printable instructions.

  1. Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
  2. Mix the wet ingredients. Beat the sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy. Add banana, milk, yogurt, and eggs and mix on low until combined.
  3. Finish the batter. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Gradually mix this into the wet ingredients on low speed. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  4. Bake. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Drizzle the additional peanut butter on top and swirl with a knife, then bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  5. Cool. Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. 
Overhead view of baked peanut butter banana bread in loaf pan

Tips for Making Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Here are some additional tips to ensure your peanut butter banana bread turns out perfect every time.

  • Use overripe bananas with brown spots. As bananas ripen, their starches turn into sugar, making them perfect for baking. Not only do they add natural sweetness to the bread, but they also give it a moist and dense texture.
  • Ripen your bananas super fast. If you need to make banana bread NOW but your bananas are still yellow, you can bake the unpeeled bananas in the oven at 300°F for about 15-20 minutes until their skins turn black. Just be sure to allow them to cool before mashing!
  • Don’t overmix the batter. This helps keep the bread tender and moist, rather than dense and tough.

Variations

You don’t want to mess around too much with a baking recipe, but here are some simple variations to try.

  • Use another nut butter. Almond butter would especially work well in this banana bread recipe!
  • Make it nut-free. For a nut-free option, swap out the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter. 
  • Top it with sugar. Sprinkle the top of the batter with Turbinado sugar, which will add some sparkle and crunchy texture.
Overhead view of sliced loaf of peanut butter banana bread

Serving Suggestions

Since there’s peanut butter baked into the loaf, it only seems fitting to slather slices of this banana bread with jelly or jam. I love this Blackberry Jam! If you want to serve it for dessert, warm up a slice of peanut butter banana bread, top it with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream, then drizzle it with chocolate syrup.

How to Store Leftovers

To keep your peanut butter banana bread fresh, wrap it in plastic or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

For even longer storage, consider freezing the bread. Wrap individual slices or the entire loaf in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag or airtight container. Frozen banana bread can be stored for up to 3 months, and you can enjoy it by thawing at room temperature or warming it in the microwave.

Sliced loaf of peanut butter banana bread on platter

What to Serve With Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Sliced loaf of peanut butter banana bread

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Banana Bread Recipe

Yield: 12 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
This delicious Peanut Butter Banana Bread recipe is tender and moist, with lots of nutty flavor in every bite. It's so easy to make too!
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup creamy peanut butter, plus 2 tablespoons for the top
  • 1 ⅔ cups mashed ripe banana about 3 bananas
  • ¼ cup 2% milk
  • ¼ cup plain fat free Greek yogurt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Mix In Options: 1 cup chocolate chips, 1 cup chopped peanuts, 1 cup marshmallow fluff (to swirl on top.)

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the sugar and peanut butter beating at medium speed until fluffy. On low-speed, add the banana, milk, greek yogurt and eggs mixing until combined.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Keeping the mixer on low-speed and slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Beat just until blended.
  • If adding mix ins, fold the chocolate chips into the batter just to combine.
  • Pour the batter into a 9×5 inch metal loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Drizzle two tablespoons peanut butter on top and swirl with a knife.
  • Transfer to the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack.  Remove from pan and cool on rack.

Notes

Peanut Butter Banana Bread can be made nut free. Substitute the peanut butter swirl with a nut-free butter like sunflower seed butter.
Calories: 207kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 227mg, Potassium: 145mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 20g, Vitamin A: 61IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Bread, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American

More Banana Bread Recipes

For more easy quick bread recipes, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!