Chunky Peanut Butter Banana Bread

If you love the flavors of peanut butter and bananas, but you also love the crunch of dry roasted peanuts, have I got a treat for you! This delicious Chunky Peanut Butter Banana Bread is all of your favorite flavors and textures in one easy recipe. 

If a baking site could win an award for having the most banana bread recipes, I’m pretty sure Out of the Box Baking would win! 

I’ve got the world’s best Banana Bread with Mayonnaise. (Yum!) I’ve also got a delicious Banana Bread Maui. Oh, and a simple Banana Berry Bread. I’ve also got a Classic Banana Bread with Walnuts that’s super yummy.

You’ll find a host of other banana breads listed near the bottom of this post. But what prompted today’s recipe was a huge bundle of bananas and a couple of jars of peanut butter. They were taunting me. I wanted to merge them into a chunky peanut butter banana bread. 

I’ve already got another (similar) recipe, but I wanted this one to be different. Instead of using chunky peanut butter, I wanted to chop up a full cup of dry roasted peanuts and add them to the mix. I felt sure the texture would be amazing! 

Can I Use Chunky Peanut Butter? 

You can, but think about the ratios. This recipe calls for a full cup of creamy peanut butter and a full cup of chopped peanuts. So, if you use chunky peanut butter you’ll need more than a cup. I’d say a cup and a half might be enough because you don’t want to go too heavy on the fats in the peanut butter. 

I honestly think that creamy is the best option, but feel free to experiment. 

That’s kind of what this recipe was. . .an experiment. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out, especially when I saw how much batter it made. I probably should have baked it in a bundt pan, but I had the loaf pan prepped and ready. 

More about that later. Right now, let’s look at the ingredients you’ll need to make this delicious peanut butter banana bread. 

Chunky Peanut Butter Banana Bread Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a peek at what you’ll need. These are simple ingredients. I’m guessing you already have most of these on hand in your kitchen, even now. 

• all-purpose flour
• salt
• baking powder
• peanut butter
• chopped dry roasted peanuts
• whole milk, room temperature
• egg 
• mashed bananas
• granulated sugar
• brown sugar
• baking soda

How to Make Chunky Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. 

Prep a loaf pan or bundt pan by spraying with Baker’s Joy or other baking spray. Set aside. 

Chop peanuts and set aside.

Place the flour, salt, and baking powder in a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment and mix together. 

Add the peanut butter and chopped peanuts.

Mix for about 2 – 3 minutes or until it forms a crumb-like consistency. 

In a separate bowl, mash the bananas. My bananas were huge. I used three of them. I ended up with about a cup and a half, so judge accordingly with your bananas. 

Add sugars to the bananas and mix well. 

Now add the egg and mix until combined. 

Add baking soda and milk. Stir together until it all comes together. 

Bring it together! 

Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix (with the stand mixer or electric mixer) for about a minute until all ingredients come together. 

Pour into prepared pan. 

Place in preheated 350 degree oven and bake for a full hour. 

At the 45-minute mark place a piece of aluminum foil over the top to keep it from getting burned.

At the one hour point remove and place on a wire rack to cool. 

After about fifteen minutes, flip it out directly onto the wire rack. 

Slice and enjoy! 

Store leftover peanut butter banana bread at room temperature in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. It should be good for about four days. You can store in the fridge up to a week. You can also freeze this bread, if you like. In a freezer bag it should stay good up to two months, perhaps even longer. 

What to Expect from this Bread

I’ve been on a roll making quick breads lately, and happen to love most all of them. But I wasn’t sure how this one would turn out, in part because of the sheer quantity of batter. I wondered if I should have baked it in two smaller loaves or (as I mentioned above) in a bundt pan. 

In the end, I was happy this one was baked as a loaf. It took a little longer to bake than anticipated ( a full 70 minutes) but it was worth the wait. 

I usually butter my warm banana bread but in this case I added peanut butter. Because the bread was warm the peanut butter melted a little, which was sheer perfection!

The inside of the loaf was tender, moist, and flaky. The crunchy exterior was sheer perfection! All in all this was a perfect loaf!

Ways to Mix Things Up

This bread is delicious just like it is, but if you’re feeling adventurous you might want to change things up a little. Here are some fun ideas: 

Chocolate Chips: Add a cup of chocolate chips in place of the peanuts, if you like. 

Brown sugar only: Skip the white and add only brown sugar for a richer, darker loaf of cake. 

Swirled peanut butter: If you like, you can skip the peanut butter in the batter and swirl it in, instead. I have a full tutorial on this method in a separate post. 

Bundt pan: I mentioned that this bread could be baked in a bundt. I will definitely try it that way next time. Cooking times may vary. 

Muffins: I think this recipe would make delicious muffins! Bake them in a cupcake pan with liners. Otherwise they might stick to the pan. 

Chocolate Banana Bread: I have a great recipe for a chocolate banana bread, but you could use this recipe and simply add 1/3 cup cocoa powder to the mix.

Other Banana Breads from Out of the Box Baking

I told you guys that I have a ton of them, and here’s the proof. Along with the banana breads listed above, I also have these to offer you: 

Simple Gluten Free Banana Bread: If you’re looking for a delicious and easy banana bread recipe but you’re unable to have gluten, this is the recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you have I make my super simple Gluten-Free Banana Bread from scratch! 

Easy Cake Mix Banana Bread: If you love a delicious and easy banana bread recipe that’s both simple and tasty, this is the post for you! 

Starter Discard Banana Bread: If you’ve got some leftover sourdough starter and need a way to use it, then this recipe is perfect for you. This is a delicious and simple banana bread that calls for 8 ounces of unfed starter. 

Caramel Pecan Banana Bread: If you love a delicious banana bread but need one that comes together in a jiffy, have I got the perfect recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to make a simple but delicious caramel pecan banana bread that starts with a box of cake mix. 

Cranberry Banana Bread: If you’re looking for a rich, moist loaf of banana bread with the tartness of cranberries have I got a treat for you! This recipe is simple to make, loaded with texture and flavor, and made with a secret ingredient. . .mayonnaise! 

Luscious Apple Banana Bread: If you’re in the mood for a really warm, rich bread, packed full of sweetness and fruity flavor, have you come to the right place! This amazing apple banana bread is truly the perfect treat! 

Strawberry Banana Bread: Every now and again it’s fun to mix things up. This recipe takes a traditional banana bread load and gives it tropical flair. With the addition of fresh strawberries, shredded coconut, and cream of coconut, you’ll feel like you’re on a desert island! Best of all, it’s easy-breezy to make! 

Brown Butter Banana Bread: If you love the texture and ease of a traditional banana bread but also love the warm, nutty flavor of brown butter, have I got a treat for you! This simple recipe adds rich spices and luscious browned butter for a unique twist on an old favorite. 

That’s it for this post, friends!

I hope you enjoyed this delicious banana bread recipe. The peanut butter makes it absolutely perfect!

If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you’re at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!

See this recipe at  

• Full Plate Thursday 
• Weekend Potluck
• The Lazy Gastronome
• Busy Monday 

About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 165 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.