Easy Maple Pecan Banana Bread Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour

This whole-grain maple pecan banana bread recipe is going to be a staple quick bread in your home. Perfect for breakfast, snack time, or late-night munchies, this moist (I know) & nutty banana bread will be your new favorite loaf!

Bananas somehow tend to pile up on the counter until they’re soft and spotty, so why not take those bruised beauties and some freshly milled flour and make something cozy, comforting, and a little bit special?

If you’re ready to try something familiar but with a tasty twist, grab your ripe bananas and let me show you how to make a snack worth sharing. My family voted this the best banana bread recipe I have tested.

Want more fast and fresh milled baking ideas? Try these other 5 quick breads you can make with fresh milled flour: Apple Cider Mini Muffins, Sourdough Discard Pumpkin Bread, Honey Corn Bread, Pumpkin Raisin & Pecan Muffins, or Sourdough Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins. Bonus recipe: Zucchini Muffins!

New to Fresh Milled Flour? Learn how to mill your own flour at home with our Fresh Milled Flour Beginner’s Guide or learn how to choose wheat berries for milling with our Grain Guide.

Why You’ll Love this Whole Grain Banana Bread

This easy banana bread recipe with freshly ground flour is so stinking simple, plus you’ll get to use those overripe bananas instead of tossing them.

Flour that’s freshly milled keeps all of the bran and germ, which means more of the grain’s natural oils, nutrients, and nutty flavors shine through. It’s not just bread with banana, but banana and whole-grain goodness.

This recipe plays well with all sorts of mix-ins (nuts, chocolate chips, seeds) and tweaks so you can personalize it without fearing the loaf will be a flop.

Step-by-Step How to Make Banana Bread

Prep: Pre-heat the oven to 350°F, grease your loaf pan (or line with parchment if using), and gather ingredients.

Mix Wet Ingredients: Cream together butter and brown sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer using the paddle attachment. Add maple syrup, vanilla, eggs, and bananas. Beat together until combined. I keep a few small banana chunks in my batter.

Mix Dry Ingredients: Add freshly milled flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder right on top of the wet mixture. Give it a little mix, then add chopped pecans.

Mix gently on the lowest speed, or with a spatula, just until combined. Try not to overmix or you’ll end up with a tough loaf.

Rest Batter: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing out the top with a spatula. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes on the counter to fully hydrate the flour.

Bake: Bake the your maple pecan banana bread loaf for about 50 minutes, then tent with a piece of foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or internal temperature is 200 degrees.

Cool: Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Slice the loaf once it has completely cooled.

Easy Banana Bread Variations

Try making this banana bread recipe with some spelt or Kamut flour. You can leave out the pecans or even swap them for walnuts or macadamia nuts. You could even try shelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for a fun texture twist.

Make it a chocolate chip banana bread by adding in ½ cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Want more punch? Spice it up by adding 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and a pinch of cloves for a more holiday feel.

Make it mini by pouring batter into mini loaf pans or a mini muffin tin (make sure to reduce bake time closer to 20-25 minutes). These are great for sharing or tasty lunchbox treats.

Maple pecan banana bread is a slight twist from the classic, but oh so delicious! Soon you’ll have a maple-sweet banana aroma drifting through your kitchen with that subtle nutty undertone from fresh-milled wheat. A little slice of warm bread with a slather of butter. That’s the vibe I love. It’s like the classic banana nut bread recipe, but upgraded with a maple note and whole wheat.

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Easy Maple Pecan Banana Bread Recipe with Fresh Milled Flour

Yield: 1 loaf

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Bake a loaf of whole wheat, maple, and pecan banana bread that’s moist, full of flavor, and totally wholesome, thanks to fresh milled flour.

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Ingredients

• 113 grams Unsalted Butter, softened
• 100 grams Brown Sugar
• 85 grams Maple Syrup
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 Eggs
• 340 grams Ripe Banana (about 3 medium-large bananas)
• 285 grams Soft White Wheat
• 1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 3/4 teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 60 grams Pecans, chopped

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F, grease your loaf pan (or line with parchment if using), and gather ingredients.
2. Cream together butter and brown sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer using the paddle attachment. Add maple syrup, vanilla, eggs, and bananas. Beat together until combined. I keep a few small banana chunks in my batter.
3. Add freshly milled flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder right on top of the wet mixture. Give it a little mix, then add chopped pecans.
4. Mix gently on the lowest speed, or with a spatula, just until combined. Try not to overmix or you'll end up with a tough loaf.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing out the top with a spatula. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes on the counter to fully hydrate the flour.
6. Bake the your maple pecan banana bread loaf for about 50 minutes, then tent with a piece of foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or the internal temperature is 200 degrees.
7. Let the loaf cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
8. Slice the loaf once it has completely cooled.

Notes

• You can swap maple syrup for honey
• I don't mash my bananas before adding to the bowl, but you can totally mash yours first (I just like a few banana chunks and less tools to clean!)
• You don't have to use a stand mixer; you can use a hand mixer to cream the butter and sugar, then mix everything with a whisk or spatula

Nutrition Information

Yield 12 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 269Total Fat 13gSaturated Fat 5gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 51mgSodium 194mgCarbohydrates 37gFiber 4gSugar 16gProtein 6g

*This has not been evaluated by the FDA. Nutrition Label may not be accurate. This label has been automatically pulled, and ingredients may not be categorized correctly.