Strawberry Banana Bread

This Strawberry Banana Bread is packed with ripe banana + fresh strawberry flavor. A slice of this bread with a mug of hot coffee is a pretty fantastic way to start the day!

This post may contain paid links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

This recipe is the perfect example of why everyone needs a darned good banana bread recipe. Growing up, my mother made fresh loaves of banana bread all the time. It felt like a loaf would show up every week. Once I moved out on my own, that banana bread became one of the first recipes I learned to bake myself. I know everyone has a banana bread recipe, but this one is just darned good!

I’ve probably made that basic banana bread recipe a couple hundred times over the years. (I still haven’t baked as many as my mother!) I love that bread. A fresh slice of banana bread with a hot mug of coffee is a thing of beauty. And once that bread is a day or two old? Slather it with butter, pop it in the toaster oven and get ready to be amazed!

Over the years, I’ve played around with that recipe a bit. I’ve never touched the base recipe itself – it doesn’t need any improvements. But I have added blueberries + coconut. I’ve added caramelized bananas on top. I’ve even mixed in leftover cranberry sauce from the holidays ⬅️ perhaps my all-time favorite version!

Strawberry Banana Bread

Today we’re adding another version to that lineup – Strawberry Banana Bread. We recently went strawberry picking, and now we have baskets (yes, multiple large baskets) of fresh strawberries in the fridge. I’m sure I’ll end up chopping and freezing some of ’em, but I also decided to toss a couple handfuls into banana bread batter. You know, just to see what would happen. It’s for science.

Just as I expected, this bread is fantastic. The banana and strawberry flavors both shine through, and I like the handful of chopped pecans as they add a bit of texture to the bread. Of course, feel free to use a different nut (I’ve used walnuts in the past) or just omit the nuts entirely. Your choice.

Ingredients

• Unsalted Butter. I always use unsalted butter when baking and then add a bit of salt. That way you can control the amount of salt. Make sure the butter is room temperature.
• Granulated Sugar. Adds flavor and helps maintain moisture in the loaf once baked.
• Eggs. Adds structure to the bread as it bakes.
• Ripe Bananas. Let those bananas get good and ripe! And then mash them with a fork before adding them into the batter.
• All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda. Basic dry ingredients for a quick bread recipe.
• Fresh Strawberries. Pick bright red berries that also have a strong fragrant smell.
• Chopped Pecans. Adds flavor and texture.

Like most quick bread recipes, this Strawberry Banana Bread is pretty darned easy. Just cream the butter and sugar together until it’s light and fluffy – it’ll start to stick to the sides of the bowl. Then just add the remaining ingredients in stages. Once the batter is ready, transfer it into a greased bread pan and send it off to the oven. Then just get ready for your house to smell amazing while this loaf bakes!

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover Strawberry Banana Bread should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I recommend spreading a bit of butter on leftover slices and then toasting ’em in a toaster oven. SO good! On a side note, this recipe can easily be doubled, and the second loaf can be frozen. To freeze leftover banana bread, let the baked loaf cool entirely and then wrap it in plastic wrap. Place it in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let the frozen loaf thaw at room temperature before slicing.

If you’re looking for a darned good banana bread recipe, just save this one minus the strawberries. Of course, if it’s fresh strawberry season, then go ahead and add some diced berries to the batter. A slice or two of this bread makes for a pretty fantastic weekend breakfast – Happy Baking!

Did you bake this Strawberry Banana Bread recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me (@Spicedblog) on Instagram – I’d love to see your version!

Strawberry Banana Bread

This Strawberry Banana Bread is packed with ripe banana + fresh strawberry flavor. A slice of this bread with a mug of hot coffee is a pretty fantastic way to start the day!

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 slices

Calories: 303kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 ripe bananas mashed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 8 oz. strawberries hulled and diced into ¼”-½” pieces
• ¾ cup chopped pecans divided

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Grease and flour a 9”x5” loaf pan; set pan aside.
• Using a countertop mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (~2-3 minutes on medium speed.)
• Add eggs, mashed bananas and vanilla extract; stir until just combined.
• Using a separate large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
• Add half of flour mixture to the bowl with the banana mixture; stir until well combined. Repeat with remaining flour mixture.
• Fold in strawberries and ½ cup of chopped pecans.
• Transfer mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup of pecans on top.
• Bake for 80-90 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of bread comes out mostly clean. (Note: Tent the top of the bread with foil after ~50 minutes to prevent it from burning.)
• Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Looking for more versions of this banana bread? Check out some of these other favorites, too: