Carrot Cake Banana Bread (Printable)

A moist loaf blending carrot cake spices with tender banana sweetness. Ideal for breakfast or afternoon snacks.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 (dairy or non-dairy)

→ Add-Ins

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

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or grease thoroughly.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Add the grated carrots, brown sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk. Mix until fully combined.
04 - Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing just until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
05 - Fold in the nuts and raisins if using.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top evenly.
07 - Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. A few moist crumbs are acceptable.
08 - Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly moist without being heavy or dense like some quick breads can get
  • It uses up those overripe bananas nobody wants to eat plain but transforms them into something magical
  • The warming spices make your whole kitchen feel cozy while it bakes
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make your bread tough, so stop as soon as the flour disappears
  • The toothpick test should show a few moist crumbs but not wet batter because it continues cooking while cooling
  • Grating your own carrots makes a huge difference in texture compared to buying pre shredded
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more easily and create a more uniform texture
  • Letting the batter rest for 10 minutes before baking helps the flour hydrate for a more tender crumb

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