Carrot Cake Banana Bread (Printable)

A moist, spiced loaf combining ripe bananas and grated carrots with warming cinnamon and nutmeg. Perfect for breakfast or brunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

→ Wet Ingredients

08 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
09 - 1 cup finely grated carrots (about 2 medium)
10 - 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
11 - 1/4 cup neutral oil or melted butter
12 - 2 large eggs
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - 1/4 cup milk

→ Add-Ins

15 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
16 - 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or grease thoroughly.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Mash bananas in a large bowl. Add grated carrots, brown sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk. Mix until fully incorporated.
04 - Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing just until no dry streaks remain. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Fold in chopped nuts and raisins if desired.
06 - Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top evenly.
07 - Bake for 50 to 55 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
08 - Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It uses up those overripe bananas you feel guilty throwing away while making something that feels like a treat instead of a salvage mission
  • The texture is impossibly moist without being dense, thanks to the vegetable pair working together
  • It freezes beautifully so you can slice and freeze individual portions for those grab and go mornings
02 -
  • Every oven is different so start checking at 45 minutes because a dry banana carrot loaf is basically a sad breakfast cake
  • The toothpick test should have a few moist crumbs attached because this bread continues cooking as it cools
  • Grating carrots by hand is worth the effort over food processor shreds which can be too coarse and create weird texture
03 -
  • Grate extra carrots and freeze them in one cup portions so you can make this whenever bananas go brown without planning ahead
  • Line your loaf pan with parchment paper that overhangs the sides like handles for the easiest removal ever

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