Walnut & Fig Banana Bread

Natasha MinochaBy Natasha MinochaUpdated September 27, 2024 Jump to recipe
5.0 · 3 ratings

Warm, moist, and so soft, this homey walnut & fig banana bread spells comfort. A slice of this freshly baked banana bread will make you feel all is well with the world!

Stacked slices of Walnut & Fig Banana Bread with caramel sauce.

This walnut & fig banana bread is very basic and simple. It is a one-bowl recipe. There is no need to get your mixer out. No separating eggs, beating the whites till stiff. Simply dump everything in a bowl, one after another, and mix.

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Why We Love This Recipe

All you need is a bowl, a fork, and ripe bananas.

Adding walnuts to banana bread gives it a lovely crunch.

This walnut & fig walnut bread is a keeper, I promise you.

Recipe Ingredients

Bananas: Spotty bananas are the sweetest, so use the ripest ones.

Oil: Pick your favorite or any neutral-tasting vegetable oil.

Eggs: Make sure they are at room temperature.

Flour: I used whole wheat flour for this fig banana bread, but all-purpose flour will work too, or use half-and-half of both.

Sugar: I love adding brown sugar to my fall banana breads. Feel free to replace it with regular, raw, or any other sugar you love.

Walnuts: They add a wonderful nutty flavor and texture.

Figs: This recipe works great with dried figs. Fresh figs would be wonderful here too.

Spices: A splash of homemade vanilla extract, and some cinnamon powder give the fig and walnut bread all the flavor it needs.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

loaf of walnut banana bread with a knife on a trivet.

How To Make Walnut & Fig Banana Bread

Step 1: Set your oven to preheat and then grease your loaf pan. I used an 8 by 4 inch one.
Step 2: In a large bowl, add the ripe bananas and mash with a fork.
Step 3: Mix in the oil, vanilla extract, and eggs. Add the brown sugar and mix well.
Step 4: Sift in the flour, salt, cinnamon powder, and baking soda.
Step 5: Combine everything until just moistened. Don’t overmix.
Step 6: Fold in chopped walnuts and figs.
Step 7: Pour the walnut banana fig bread batter into the prepared pan.
Step 8: Bake for about 45–50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
Turn the walnut and fig banana cake out onto a cooling rack.

Pro Tips

  • It’s easier to mix everything when all the fig banana bread ingredients are at room temperature.
  • Sift your dry ingredients. It breaks any big lumps and makes for a smoother batter.
  • Use those browning bananas. They make the bread sweeter. Don’t have any? I share an easy trick to ripen bananas quickly in my delicious strawberry banana bread recipe.
  • If the walnut & fig banana bread starts to brown on the top, cover it loosely with a piece of foil.
Sliced walnut & fig bread on a black trivet.

How to serve

Warm or at room temperature, walnut & fig banana bread is a total winner.

Recipe FAQs

Can you use fresh figs for this banana bread recipe?

Yes, you can make fresh fig and walnut banana bread. Chop up the fruit. Toss it in a bit of flour (so it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the loaf) and then add it to the batter. You can also see how I used fresh figs to make my quick fig bread!

How long does walnut banana bread last?

On the countertop, the bread will last for up to 3 days. Keep it in the fridge for longer storage. Always use an airtight container.

What is a good walnut substitute for banana bread?

Don’t get me started on what other nuts you can use in place of walnuts! Pecans, macadamias, hazelnuts, cashews—anything works.

More banana bread recipes

Hawaiian Banana Bread With Pineapple And CoconutBiscoff Banana BreadBanana Carrot BreadCream Cheese Swirl Banana Bread

Recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Walnut & Fig Banana Bread easy wholegrain baking

Walnut & Fig Banana Bread

Natasha Minocha
Warm and moist this homey Walnut & Fig Banana Bread spells comfort. A slice of this freshly baked bread will make you feel all is well with the world!
5 from 3 votes · tap the stars to rate!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Bread, Cakes, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 325 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 3 Bananas, very ripe
  • 1/3 cup Oil
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup Brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups Wholewheat flour
  • 1 tsp Baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Cinnamon powder
  • 1/3 cup Walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup Diced dried figs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180C. Grease a loaf pan 8" x 4".
  • In a large bowl, add the bananas and mash with a fork. Mix in the oil, vanilla extract, and eggs.
    3 (300 g) Bananas, 1/3 cup (65 g) Oil, 2 Eggs, 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • To this mixture, add the brown sugar and mix well.
    1/2 cup (110 g) Brown sugar
  • Now stir in the flour, salt, cinnamon powder, and baking soda. Mix until just moistened.
    1 1/2 cups (195 g) Wholewheat flour, 1 tsp Baking soda, 1/4 tsp Salt
  • Fold in the walnuts and figs.
    1/3 cup (45 g) Walnuts, 1/4 cup (40 g) Diced dried figs
  • Pour the batter in the prepared pan and bake for about 45 - 50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. If the cake starts to brown a lot on the top, cover it loosely with a piece of foil.
  • Turn the cake out onto a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 ServingCalories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 231mgPotassium: 273mgFiber: 3gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 2mg

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From your kitchens

20 readers wrote in

5.0 from 3 ratings

  1. Vrushali Venkatraman

    Hi... tried it with buckwheat + whole wheat and the texture is great compared to the gooey flat version with plain wheat.Thanks for the tip.
    Also flax eggs have become a regular in my cakes after I first used them in ragi double choco cookies. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    1. Natasha Author

      So happy to hear this! Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback and for your support, Vrushali! xx

  2. Alice ★★★★★

    Thank you for the recipe, recently made and delicious! Do you know the nutritional info by any chance?

    Reply

    1. Natasha Author

      Thanks so much for your lovely feedback, Alice. I'm so glad you enjoyed this cake.
      Unfortunately, I don't have the nutritional information for this.????????

  3. jason ★★★★★

    your recipy looks great

    Reply

    1. Natasha Author

      Thank you! 🙂

      1. Sai

        hi Natasha how can we substitute the eggs in the recipe ..?

        1. Natasha Author

          Hi Sai, I haven't this without eggs, but you could substitute with flax egg i.e 1 tbsp flaxseed powder + 3 tbsp water. Stir and keep aside for 5 minutes until gelatinous. This is the measurement for 1 egg. Please double for 2 eggs. Hope this helps. 🙂

  4. Rishi Sharma

    this is so delicious as dessert! hits any sweet tooth on the nail

    Reply

    1. Natasha Author

      Thank you! 🙂

  5. aliya

    This is truly a brilliant combination something I have never thought of before now .i want to make this banana bread.

    Reply

    1. Natasha Author

      Thank you so much, Aliya ! So glad you stopped by!

  6. Easyfoodsmith

    What an easy peasy and gorgeous loaf of banana bread! Especially love the salted caramel drizzle. ????

    Reply

    1. Natasha Author

      Thanks so much, Taruna! Gotta love easy baking recipes, right?! xoxo

5 from 3 votes

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