This moist and flavorful Starbucks banana bread recipe will soon become a new favorite in your home! The aromatic, sweet loaf is stock full of mashed bananas, crunchy nuts, and hints of warm spices for the perfect breakfast and afternoon snack. Save this one because it’s truly the best copycat recipe!

The best copycat Starbucks banana bread

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking, I’ve finally found the best Starbucks banana nut bread recipe. We have many banana bread recipes on the site, but this is my go-to favorite!

It’s an easy-to-make, never-fail quick bread that always gets rave reviews. It’s simple, super moist, and full of homey banana flavor. There’s just no better way to make good use of those overripe bananas sitting on your counter right now.

You can stir together the whole loaf in 10 minutes (no mixer required!), pop it in your oven, and enjoy a tasty make-ahead breakfast or snack throughout the week. It gets even better as it sits!

If you ever wanted to recreate Starbucks banana loaf at home, this is the post for you!

And for more banana goodness, try out these other recipes next: condensed milk banana bread, Bisquick banana bread, and lemon banana bread!

Ingredients

Let’s chat about the Starbucks banana bread ingredients! As long as you have overripe bananas, I bet you’ll find everything else in your kitchen too. Please scroll down to the recipe card for exact measurements.

• All-purpose flour makes up the base of the batter.
• Baking powder is the leaving agent that helps the loaf rise.
• Ground cinnamon and nutmeg are the spices that a warming, homey aroma to the recipe.
• Salt helps to balance the sweetness and enhance the other flavors.
• Very ripe bananas give every bite sweet banana flavor and keep the bread moist. Spotted, brown bananas are ideal here.
• Granulated sugar provides each slice with just the right amount of sweetness.
• Vegetable oil keeps the bread moist and tender.
• Egg: You’ll need only 1 egg to give the bread structure.
• Vanilla extract adds depth of flavor.
• Walnuts provide a toasty, nutty crunch. You can also substitute pecans or use a mix of both.

How to make Starbucks banana bread

This Starbucks banana loaf recipe gets better the longer it sits. So go ahead and bake a loaf ahead of time, and you’ll wake up to a delicious homemade banana treat in the morning. I’ve also included the step-by-step instructions in the recipe card below.

1. Whisk dry ingredients. Whisk or sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and ground spices.
2. Combine wet ingredients. In another bowl, whisk together the mashed banana, sugar, oil, egg, and vanilla extract.
3. Mix batter. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in the chopped walnuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
4. Bake banana bread. Pour the batter into a lined baking pan and bake at 350°C for about 50 to 60 minutes. The loaf is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center pulls out clean. Let the bread cool before slicing and serving.

Baker’s tips

• Use overripe bananas for maximum sweetness and flavor. They should look quite brown and speckled.
• Avoid overmixing the batter: Stir the dry ingredients into the wet just until they are combined. Too much mixing will make the bread dry and tough. The key to moist banana bread is not overmixing.
• The baking time will vary depending on your oven and the type of pan you’re using. Light-colored and gold pans cook the bread slower than dark metal pans. You’ll know the bread is ready when a skewer comes out clean.
• Tent your bread loosely with aluminum foil if the top of the bread gets too dark before it has fully cooked through.

Variations

• Butter: If you prefer butter over oil, prepare the recipe with 6 tablespoons of melted, cooled butter. If salted butter, slightly decrease the salt to 1/2 teaspoon.
• Chocolate chips: Fold 1/2 to 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips into the batter.
• Raisins: Stir a handful of raisins into the batter for a plump, juicy texture and extra sweetness.
• Increase the spices: Starbucks banana nut bread features only a subtle hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, but you can add more for a more prominent spice flavor.
• Less nuts: For a subtle taste of nuts, prepare the recipe with only 1/2 cup of nuts.
• Whole grains: Replace half the all-purpose flour with 3/4 cup whole wheat flour.
• Muffins: You can easily turn the recipe into banana muffins by dividing the batter between 12 standard-sized muffin cups lined with paper liners or greased with cooking spray. Bake at 375°F / 190°C / gas mark 5 for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out clean.

How to serve Starbucks banana bread

This copycat Starbucks banana bread is a satisfying option for breakfast or snacking, especially when paired with a hot cup of coffee or tea. You can serve the bread warm, at room temperature, or straight from the fridge.

The loaf is certainly delicious on its own, but it also tastes delicious with melty butter and maple syrup, cream cheese, almond butter, or peanut butter.

And add some fresh fruit, a bowl of yogurt, eggs, or crispy bacon on the side for a nourishing morning feast.

Make-ahead & storage

Make banana nut bread ahead of time

Starbucks banana walnut loaf is an excellent breakfast to meal prep. As mentioned before, the bread gets better the longer it sits. The flavors blend together and the oil keeps the bread nice and moist for days.

Store Starbucks banana bread

To protect your bread from drying out, wrap the loaf in plastic wrap or tin foil. The bread will remain fresh on the counter at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. It will last in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Freeze Starbucks banana loaf

To freeze, let the banana nut bread cool completely. Then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a large freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let defrost in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

FAQ

How many cups is 1 mashed banana?

Measuring bananas for a recipe can be tricky. If a recipe calls for 3 to 4 bananas – how much is that? Measuring is important in baking, so the difference between small and large bananas can be significant.

My Starbucks banana bread recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of mashed banana. A large banana yields approximately 1/2 cup mashed, you’ll need 3 large bananas for a total of 1 1/2 cups.

If working with small bananas, you probably need 4 to 5. Measuring is always the best way to make sure your Starbucks copycat banana bread turns out perfectly sweet, moist, and delicious.

How do you ripen bananas in the oven?

Crave banana bread from Starbucks right away but only have yellow bananas? Good news because you can quickly ripen bananas in the oven. Here’s what to do:

• Preheat your oven to 300°C / 150°C / gas mark 2.
• Place the bananas (still in their peels) on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until fragrant and mushy. The banana peel will become black and shiny, but the inside will be perfect.
• Allow the bananas to cool completely before proceeding with the recipe.

What kind of nuts are in Starbucks copycat banana bread?

Starbucks uses a mix of walnuts and pecans in their current banana bread. Over the years, they also offered a walnut-only version.

I prefer walnuts in banana bread, so that’s what I stuck with, but you can substitute pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, or pistachios if you prefer.

Whatever nut you go for, chop them up fairly small so they evenly disperse through the batter and the loaf is easier to slice through.

Why did my Starbucks banana loaf fall in the middle?

If your copycat banana bread sinks in the center as it cools, it’s likely because it is underbaked and isn’t fully cooked. Banana bread forms a golden dark crust on the outside that makes it appear done, but the inside might still be slightly raw.

Before you take your loaf out of the oven, insert a skewer or toothpick into the very middle of the loaf. If it comes out clean with only a few crumbs, it’s ready. But if you notice any wet batter, return the bread to the oven to finish baking.

How do you keep Starbucks banana nut bread moist?

To keep your banana bread moist and tender, consider these tips:

• The correct ratio of flour to wet ingredients is key, since the bananas, oil, and eggs provide moisture to the batter. However, too much oil or bananas will make the bread mushy and gummy.
• Be careful not to overmix the batter. Over-mixing will activate gluten and lead to a tough, dry texture. Instead, stir just until everything is combined, and you no longer see any pockets of flour, then stop. A few lumps in the batter are fine.
• Don’t overbake the bread, or it will become dry. Mine is usually ready around the 50-minute mark, so check your bread early.

Is Starbucks banana bread healthy?

While you’re getting some healthy nutrients from the bananas and nuts, I wouldn’t exactly call this Starbucks copycat recipe healthy. It definitely has plenty of refined carbs, sugar, and fat.

That being said, it’s not a deep-fried treat, and the nuts give the bread a satisfying quality. You can surely do worse when it comes to sweet breakfasts.

What are the Starbucks banana bread calories?

Let’s talk about the Starbucks banana bread nutrition. 1 serving has 323 calories, 16 fat, 42 carbs, and 21 sugar. You can find more nutritional info in the recipe card above.