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Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Peanut butter banana bread with a rich peanut butter swirl baked into a golden, moist quick loaf. Mashed ripe bananas and a tender crumb come together with a gentle swirl on top for every slice.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Banana bread base
  • 3 ripe bananas Use very ripe bananas for sweetness and moisture.
  • 1 large egg Helps bind the loaf and create a tender crumb.
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 salt pinch A small amount balances sweetness.
  • 0.33 cup brown sugar
  • 0.33 cup melted butter Use cooled melted butter so it doesn’t cook the egg.
Peanut butter swirl
  • 0.5 cup creamy peanut butter Use creamy peanut butter for the smoothest swirl; warm slightly if too thick.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Prep and mix
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan so the batter releases cleanly after baking.
  2. Mash the ripe bananas and whisk in the peanut butter, melted butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth and glossy.
  3. Fold in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined, with no dry flour pockets.
Swirl and bake
  1. Pour most of the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it into an even layer.
  2. Dollop the remaining peanut butter over the top and swirl gently with a knife for marbled streaks.
  3. Bake at 350°F for 55-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
Cool and slice
  1. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to prevent sogginess.

Notes

Pro tip: warm the peanut butter slightly if it’s too thick to swirl, so you get streaks instead of lumps. Store tightly wrapped at room temperature up to 4 days; refrigerating is optional if your kitchen is warm. Freezing is yes—slice and wrap, freeze up to 2 months, then thaw overnight. For a peanut-butter flavor swap, use almond butter in the same amount.