I’ve spread Nutella on just about everything, but one of my favorites is freshly baked banana bread. In an “aha! moment” I decided to swirl the Nutella right into the batter and bake them together. I’m not claiming to have discovered this combo, but I believe this may be the tastiest pairing ever there was. I now always make two loaves of Nutella swirled banana bread, otherwise it disappears too quickly. One we eat while it is still warm and a bit gooey, the other sits for breakfast the next day. It is magnificent and super simple to make.
The first time I tried Nutella was in France, on my honeymoon. I thought French kids were the luckiest people on earth. There was no way my mom would have given me a chocolate hazelnut spread on anything. (For the record it was the 1960s, she was a hippie and didn’t allow any sugar at all. Hence my full on sugar rebellion and career as a pastry chef.)
French kids get Nutella for breakfast, on their bread at lunch or as a late night snack. They all seemed healthy enough, so I think the French moms are on to something. My honeymoon was more than 30 years ago and in the meantime we Americans have had a hazelnut spread revolution of our own. Now you can find it on the shelves of Costco and 7-eleven. My house is never without a jar.
How to Make Nutella Swirled Banana Bread
Find the full recipe at the bottom of this post!
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two Loaf Pans (8.5 x 4.5 x 2-3/4-Inches)
Mash the bananas with a Potato Masher, so they still have some small lumps. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar, butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the sugar/butter mixture, just until smooth. Add the bananas and mix just until they are combined.
Heat the Nutella in a microwave for about 20 seconds to soften it. If you don’t use a microwave, you can heat the Nutella over a double boiler for a couple of minutes. Drizzle 2/3 of the Nutella over the banana bread batter.
Using a rubber spatula gently fold the nutella into the batter, trying not to over mix, so you can see the swirls when it is baked.
Carefully divide the batter into the pans, trying not to overly mix the batter, so the swirls stay well defined.
Add the rest of the Nutella and swirl into the batter.
Bake for about 45 mintues or until a tester comes out clean.
Allow to cool in pan for about 10 minutes on a cooling rack.
Remove and eat one of them while it is still warm and gooey. Save the other Nutella swirled banana bread for the next day and serve with more melted Nutella.
Tips for Great Banana Bread
- Use SUPER ripe yellow bananas with lots of brown spots on them. That’s when they have the most flavor. Never use green bananas in banana bread.
- You can peel and freeze ripe bananas if you have too many that are getting too ripe. When they thaw they’ll look brown and gross and soupy but they work very well and taste great in banana bread.
- I prefer to mash the bananas with a potato masher instead of pureeing them so you get little chunks of banana. It’s up to you whether you puree or mash them. When you mash you want it to mostly be mush, but with some bigger pieces of banana in there. It should be almost turning to liquid. If they’re ripe enough it will happen pretty quickly.
- I discovered that I really liked swapping buttermilk for the whole milk in this recipe.
- I use baking powder and baking soda in this recipe because bananas are heavy and I don’t want the bread to be dense, I want it to have a nice lift to it.
- Grease your loaf pan with baking spray then add a parchment paper sling to ensure you can easily remove the bread from the pan. Use metal clips to hold the parchment paper down while you pour the batter in the pan, but be sure to remove the clips before baking.
- Place your loaf pan on a baking sheet when you put it in the oven so the bottom doesn’t over-bake.
- When you think your banana bread may be done, start by tapping it in the oven to make sure it’s not jiggling. When you remove it from the oven, test with a cake tester, toothpick or skewer in the very center of the bread. Ovens vary, so bake times are always just a suggestion.
Video: Banana Bread with Nutella
Watch me make this Nutella Swirled Banana Bread in my video. Be sure to check out all my videos on my YouTube channel!
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups (480g) mashed very ripe bananas about 4 large
- 1 cup (200g) lightly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (110g) unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk or buttermilk
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/3 cups (400g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (140g) Nutella
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ / 175℃. Generously grease two 8 by 4-inch / 20 by 10cm loaf pans, then line them with greased parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the bananas, brown sugar, butter, milk, eggs, and vanilla and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir just until smooth.
- Heat the Nutella in the microwave for about 20 seconds to soften.
- Divide half of the banana batter between the prepared pans. Drizzle half of the Nutella over the two pans and run a knife through the batter in a zigzag pattern to distribute.
- Add the remaining batter to the pans, top with the remaining Nutella, and swirl into the batter with the knife again.
- Bake until a tester comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then remove from the pans and set on a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Before printing reduced it to make 1 loaf. However, there’s an issue with the noted amount of flour – yes it shows 1.67 cups but it kept the grams at 400grams (which is for 2 loaves) so my batter was waaaaaay too thick of course! Please correct so that flour will be 200g for only one loaf!
Thank you for letting us know, Laura and so sorry you had issues because of the adjustment! Because of the way the recipe card plugin works, we would only be able to include either grams or cup measures, not both and have them adjust properly. Since Zoë has readers who use both of these types of measurements, we include both. I turned off the serving adjustment so this doesn’t happen to anyone else. Cheers!
Another great recipe! I’m not a big fan of banana bread, but this is delicious. I can always count on your recipes being perfect, even the first time making them.
I’ve tried other Nutella Banana Bread recipes and this is the one I keep returning to time after time. I do use about 1/4 c. To 1/3 c. extra Nutella (who wouldn’t? Lol!) We use almond milk and non-dairy butter and sometimes I chop some hazelnuts to add to the top. It’s good all ways! Thank you, Zoe, for this fantastic all purpose recipe. ❤️
I made this today. First of all, the house smelled incredible. This is fantastic that it makes 2 loaves because you WILL need to eat one while it’s warm. Fantastic recipe.
This was absolutely delicious! Bananas and chocolate swirls. Yum! Grandsons loved it too!
This is very good, although it is a bit messy with swirls of Nutella on the top of the loaf. Next time I make these, I may swirl all the Nutella into the first layer of batter, then smooth the remaining batter on top. The flavor is fabulous no matter what!
This is the best banana bread recipe. Made it today with peanut butter. Yum!
Thank you for your reply re: the pumpkin-apple caramel hotdish cake. I will be making it next week. Also made your banana nutella bread, but used chocolate-tahini to swirl in it instead of the nutella. A big hit. Thanks for providing us with all the wonderful goodies.
Judith
Sorry this isn’t a comment about this recipe, but I do have a question about another Zoe recipe. I’d like to make the pumpkin-apple-caramel hotdish featured in the Oct. issue of Food Network magazine, but am wondering if it will keep if made a day ahead of serving it. Love Zoe’s recipes – her marble pound cake from “Zoe Bakes Cakes” is a favorite of my son-in-law.
Hi Judith,
I am so thrilled you are going to try the recipe. When I tested the recipe, I made it in the evening and my boys ate it the next day and loved it.
Thank you so much for the wonderful note! Zoë
This bread is amazing! Easy to put together and delish. Another commenter said it was dry – not at all for me! But I did weigh my bananas out of curiosity and I needed 6 instead of 4 FYI. I had a bunch of bananas in the freezer to use so I did just defrost and use those. Excellent recipe – thank you!
Just found this recipe and would like to try it as I was very disappointed with the New York Times recipe for Nutella banana bread. Your recipe looks delicious! Would it work with small loaf pans? Thank you!
I have never made banana bread before (new to baking, here) but my husband loves Nutella so I thought I’d give it a try. It was very good but I thought it was just a tad dry. Any tips on how to moisten it up just a bit?
I made this today and the loaf sunk where the Nutella on top was swirled. My toothpick came out clean, and it tasted done. Why do you think that happened? Thx
Hi Debbi,
It may just be that the Nutella was a bit thick in spots. If you melt it and drizzle it in a thinner stream it may help.
Thanks, Zoë
This sounds really nice and something different to try. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Simon
I think I need to move to France after I hear that! So good.
who… and I mean who can say no to nutella 🙂
Love the recipe, Zoe 🙂
I LOVE Nutella! I used it in a homemade ice cream the other week. Will definitely be giving this a go
Hi Zoe
Over 20 years ago I moved to Italy and that was the first time I tasted Nutella, my kids when they were little (right only when they were little) would grab the jar and a spoon and off they would go. I am going to have to give your banana bread a try, looks delicious. Thanks Rosemary @anitalianinmykitchen.com
I made this recipe, and it got rave reviews! I will say that it’s very important to ‘swirl in’ the nutella. That made all the difference in the world-I had the best results when i set up the batter in the pans, then used a knife to incorporate the nutella-its nice when you’re eating it to have the difference between banana bread and the nutella goodness 🙂 Thanks for the idea (and for furthering my addiction to nutella)
That is one seriously gorgeous loaf. Two of my most favorite things in one. Love, love..
Thank you Maria!
Cheers, Zoë
Hi Zoe!
This sounds really yummy!
I don’t know if you remember me, but we’ve met a couple times. Once when I took a class from you and the last time was when you hosted Deb Perleman in MSP for her book tour visit. I was the red haired girl who sat right next to you in the library w/my Husband and when you sat down I reintroduced myself? Anyways, I was really hoping to get your opinion on something….
I’ve narrowed my range/oven down to either a Wolf 60″ All Gas Range or the 48″ Dual Fuel. My question since I know you bake so much and I really enjoy baking is: Do you think baking in an electric convection oven is better than baking in an all gas oven? The Wolf DF electric oven has 2 fans and they say is a “true” convection because the heating elements come f/behind the fans. Whereas the gas oven is just a singe fan that blows. Also wondering if you think having 2 regular size all gas ovens would be more useable than having the 1 30″ oven along w/an 18″ companion that would be both electric convection? Both would have gas cooktops. I love to bake pie, scones, bread, cookies and I have actually called our local bakeries and asked the bakers what they use and most said they bake in all gas ovens! (Rustica, Patisserie 46, Cafe Latte) but I’ve heard for home kitchens that electric convection is better for baking. So I’m conflicted and since I know you just remodeled your own kitchen if you would have an opinion on this? We are in the process of planning a new home in Grand Marais, MN and so this will be my forever kitchen!
Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Shannon Wahlstrand
Hi Shannon,
Gas is wonderful, but unless you have steam injectors you will be happier baking bread in an electric oven. I find most gas ovens, including Wolf, are made in such a way that they don’t trap steam, which is essential for baking bread. I have electric ovens and am about to get the new electric wall ovens from BlueStar. The bluestar is 30″ wide, but can fit a full sized sheet pan, which is great. I don’t think I’d find an 18″ oven very useful, but you may?
Enjoy, Zoë
Zoe,
Thanks so much for your reply and insight! I had a feeling I would be happier with an electric oven since that’s what I use now and have never owned a gas oven. Only considered a gas because they cost much less than a Dual Fuel Electric range and it would have been two 30″ ovens for the price of the DF. I did not know that Blue Star had electric ovens, maybe because we are only looking at ranges and I am not sure we’ll have room for a 48″ + a wall oven, which would be ideal! We are just a two person household so thought the small oven might come in handy at times…..might have to check out Blue Star again. Thanks again for your honest opinion from a baking standpoint and for helping confirm my decision! I really appreciate it!!!
Shannon
Hi Shannon,
Let me know what you go with. The BlueStar electric oven comes out soon, but I think you are right and it will only be wall ovens at first.
Enjoy! Zoë
Oh YUM! High five Zoe!
I actually first discovered Nutella, or a chocolate hazelnut spread, in Israel when I was 17 and went nuts for it. But same as you, it just didn’t exist in the States back then. Now I really find it too sweet for my liking – at least the jarred kind – but pairing it with a banana bread is both genius (it tames the sweetness while bringing out the chocolate) and perfect (I always put mini chocolate chips in my banana bread). My family will love this! Yours is gorgeous as usual.
Hi Jamie,
Have you made your own? I think it is a worthwhile endeavor and then it would be much less sweet. I agree, I can’t eat it on its own or I find it cloying.
z
ottimo,golosissimo, grazie per questa favolosa ricetta
I have never had Nutella! time to try it because I love banana bread.
Yummmm!! I love adding a swirl of Nutella to banana bread! This recipe looks great!
Thanks Katrina!
I was probably the last one to this nutella swirled banana bread, but I am happy I got there! 🙂
Cheers, Zoë
I love this banana bread, who could say no to a Nutella swirl?!
I’m with you Laura!
I rarely make the same recipe twice, since there are just so many to get through in one lifetime, but I find myself making this one a lot!
Cheers, Zoë
Can I make this without the Nutella?
Hi Carin, absolutely! You can leave it out completely or substitute ganache or chocolate chips instead. Enjoy!