A moist and sweet banana and blueberry bread recipe bursting with fresh blueberries and ripe bananas.
Blueberry banana bread is the perfect choice for an after-school snack, quick dessert, or even a contribution to a charity bake sale. So why not give it a try today?
Have you ever found yourself with a bunch of over-ripe bananas that nobody wants to eat? Well, fear not, because this recipe is the perfect solution! Even my picky kids, who won't touch a banana with even a hint of black on the skin, absolutely love this banana and blueberry loaf cake made with those very same bananas!
Served warm from the oven and spread with a little salted butter, this delicious cake is the ultimate after-school snack, according to my kids. So, don't let those pesky over-ripe bananas go to waste - give this recipe a try and enjoy a sweet and satisfying treat that your whole family will love!
👩🍳 Have you seen my banana & peanut butter muffins? Another great recipe for using up over-ripe bananas!
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- It's a great way of using up over-ripe bananas that might otherwise go to waste, reducing food waste and saving you money on shopping.
- This banana and blueberry bread recipe is incredibly easy to make and doesn't require a mixer or any fancy equipment, making it accessible to even the most novice of bakers.
- It's freezer-friendly, making it an ideal make-ahead option.
- This cake is versatile and can be enjoyed as a snack, packed into a picnic, or served as a delicious dessert.
- The addition of blueberries gives the cake a burst of flavour and nutrients, making it a more nutritious option than plain banana bread.
🥘 Ingredients
Bananas - Over-ripe bananas are used in this recipe, as they have a sweeter flavour and a softer texture, making them easier to mash and incorporate into the batter. The blacker the banana, the better!
Blueberries - Fresh blueberries can be used when they are in season, but frozen blueberries work well too. Blueberries add a tangy sweetness and burst of color to the cake.
Butter - Unsalted butter is used in this recipe, as it allows you to control the amount of salt in the cake. Softened butter is easier to cream with the sugars, making the batter smooth and fluffy.
Sugars - A combination of light brown sugar and caster sugar is used to give the cake a rich, caramel-like flavor. The brown sugar also helps to keep the cake moist. You can use either type of sugar on its own if you prefer.
Eggs - Large free-range eggs are used in this recipe. It's important to have them at room temperature before starting the recipe, as cold eggs can cause the butter to solidify and result in a lumpy batter.
Vanilla Extract - A good quality vanilla extract is used to add depth and complexity to the cake's flavour. It's important not to use vanilla essence, as it can give the cake an artificial taste.
Flour - White self-raising flour is used in this recipe, as it gives the cake a light and fluffy texture. However, you could substitute it for wholemeal self-raising flour if you prefer a denser, more nutritious cake.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Preheat the oven to 180°c (160 fan) and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking paper. Dust the blueberries in a tablespoon of flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake and set aside.
Two: Cream together the butter and sugars until pale and fluffy.
Three: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.
Four: Fold in the flour.
Five: Stir in the mashed bananas, fresh blueberries and mix gently until combined.
Six: Spoon into the loaf tin and bake for 50 minutes - 1 hour until golden brown (test with a skewer). Leave to cool in the tin before turning the cake out onto a cooling rack.
💭 Top tips
- Use overripe black-skinned bananas as they produce sweeter, moister bread. There are tricks to speed up ripening, such as microwaving them, but nothing beats the taste of a good old overripe banana that got to that state naturally!
- Store over-ripe bananas in your freezer (skin on) until ready to bake. Allow them to defrost for a few hours before using them in the recipe.
- If you're using frozen blueberries, dust them in a little flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake tin.
- Use a toothpick or skewer to test for doneness. A toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean when the cake is done. Be careful not to mistake a blueberry for uncooked batter when testing.
- Allow the cake to cool in the tin for at least 30 minutes before removing and slicing. This will help it to firm up and prevent it from falling apart when you slice it.
🍴 Serving suggestions
- Sliced and served on its own - This cake is delicious enough to be enjoyed on its own as a sweet treat, perfect for a snack or dessert.
- Toasted and spread with butter or cream cheese - Toasting the cake slices adds a delicious crunch to the exterior and enhances the flavours. Spread with butter or cream cheese for an extra indulgent treat.
- Topped with whipped cream and fresh berries - If you want to dress up the cake a little, try topping it with a dollop of whipped cream and some fresh berries, such as strawberries or raspberries.
- Served with a scoop of ice cream - For a truly decadent dessert, try serving the warm cake with a scoop of your favourite ice cream. Vanilla or honeycomb ice cream would be nice.
📖 Variations
- Add fresh lemon or orange zest for an extra fruity flavour!
- Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter for a warm, spiced flavour.
- Use whatever berries are in season. Raspberries work really well in this loaf cake, as do blackberries and pitted cherries.
- Use frozen berries if you can't get hold of fresh berries.
- Add a handful of chopped pecan nuts to the cake batter for added crunch and texture.
- Add 100g of white chocolate chips to make a blueberry, banana, and white chocolate chip loaf cake.
- Push a few extra blueberries into the top of the batter before baking the banana bread in the oven. It makes it look really pretty!
- Make a simple drizzle icing with water and icing sugar to spoon over the top.
🥡 Storage
Store - The baked banana and blueberry bread can be stored in an airtight container or cake tin for 3-4 days.
Freeze - The banana bread can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Double wrap in foil or cling film, and place the cake in the freezer once cooled. Defrost at room temperature and make sure it is fully thawed before serving. You can also freeze individual slices of the blueberry banana bread to pull out for lunchboxes and snacks.
❓ FAQS
Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries
Nuts such as pecan or walnuts
Dried fruit such as cranberries, apricots, or raisins
Lemon or orange zest
Use over-ripe bananas to guarantee a moist sweet cake. Take care to fold the flour into the wet batter, and gently mix in the banana and blueberries. Overmixing will cause the cake to become tough.
No! The blacker and more squishy the better! Make sure they haven't turned mouldy though. Remember you can store overripe bananas in your freezer until you have enough for your recipe!
Yes, you can definitely add a streusel topping to the cake for added texture and flavour. Simply mix together some butter, flour, sugar, and cinnamon and sprinkle it over the top of the batter before baking.
😋Related recipes
- Blueberry & White Chocolate Muffins
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Lemon & Blueberry Polenta Cake
- Lemon Curd Loaf Cake
- Blackberry Loaf Cake
- Golden Syrup Loaf Cake
🍽️ New baking recipes on the blog
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Recipe
Easy Banana and Blueberry Bread
Ingredients
- 175 g Butter softened
- 100 g Caster Sugar
- 75 g Light Brown Sugar
- 3 Eggs large
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 200 g Self Raising Flour
- 2 Bananas over-ripe and mashed
- 150 g Blueberries fresh or frozen
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°c (160 fan/ gas 4/ 350F) and line a 2lb loaf tin with baking paper. Dust the blueberries in a tablespoon of flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake and set aside.
- Cream together the butter and sugars with a wooden spoon until pale and fluffy.175 g Butter, 100 g Caster Sugar, 75 g Light Brown Sugar
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract.3 Eggs, 1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- Fold in the flour.200 g Self Raising Flour
- Stir in the mashed bananas, fresh blueberries and mix gently until combined.2 Bananas, 150 g Blueberries
- Spoon into the loaf tin and bake for 1 hour. Leave to cool in the tin before turning the cake out onto a cooling rack. Because ovens vary, start checking the cake after 50 minutes (use a skewer and see if it comes out clean).
Video
Notes
- Use overripe black-skinned bananas as they produce sweeter, moister bread. There are tricks to speed up ripening, such as microwaving them, but nothing beats the taste of a good old overripe banana that got to that state naturally!
- Store over-ripe bananas in your freezer (skin on) until ready to bake. Allow them to defrost for a few hours before using them in the recipe.
- If using frozen blueberries, dust them in a little flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake tin. I find fresh blueberries don't need the flour so much, but I generally still do dust them in flour just to make sure.
- Use a toothpick or skewer to test for doneness. A toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake should come out clean when the cake is done. Be careful not to mistake a blueberry for uncooked batter when testing.
- Allow the cake to cool in the tin for at least 30 minutes before removing and slicing. This will help it to firm up and prevent it from falling apart when you slice it.
- Add fresh lemon or orange zest for an extra fruity flavour!
- Add a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter for a warm, cosy flavour.
- Use whatever berries are in season. Raspberries work really well in this loaf cake, as do blackberries and pitted cherries.
- Use frozen berries if you can't get hold of fresh berries.
- Add a handful of chopped pecan nuts to the cake batter for added crunch and texture.
- Add 100g of white chocolate chips to make a blueberry, banana, and white chocolate chip loaf cake!
- Push a few extra blueberries into the top of the batter before baking the banana bread in the oven. It makes it look really pretty!
- Make a simple drizzle icing with water and icing sugar to spoon over the top.
Beth
This is such a delicious banana bread. I love the pop of the fresh blueberries. I'll be making this one again for sure!
Jenn
I love blueberry muffins but I've never seen blueberries and banana together before! It was amazing! I made it as soon as I saw the recipe. So moist it's my new fav!
Jessica Formicola
Blueberry and banana is one of my favorite flavor combos! This bread looks incredible and I can't wait to try it!
Anjali
Love this twist on traditional banana bread! It turned out to be moist and delicious - the perfect afternoon snack with my coffee!
Priya Srinivasan
Blueberry banana bread looks inviting! Love that gorgeous color fresh berries give the moist bread!!! Delicious bake!
Rideout
There’s no baking powder or baking soda in this recipe!!
Is that right?
Beth Sachs
Hi. I use self-raising flour which already has baking powder added (I'm in the UK).