Enjoy Nutella and banana bread together in a swirl of chocolate-hazelnut goodness. This Nutella banana bread uses half whole wheat flour and Greek yogurt for a moist, flavorful loaf that’s perfect for breakfast or dessert.
If you love banana bread and Nutella, this recipe brings them together in a simple, delicious loaf. The batter keeps things lighter by using only a touch of brown sugar and swapping half the flour for whole wheat. Greek yogurt adds moisture and tender crumb without weighing the bread down.
Recipe Ingredients
Below are the ingredients for one 9×5-inch loaf:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2–3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/3 cup brown sugar (or coconut sugar as a refined-sugar swap)
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or vanilla Greek yogurt for a hint of sweetness)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Nutella (or another chocolate-hazelnut spread), divided
Notes on ingredients: You can replace the brown sugar with coconut sugar if you prefer a less refined option. I don’t recommend directly substituting liquid sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup without adjusting the flour and liquid ratios. Plain Greek yogurt keeps the loaf moist and adds a pleasant tang; vanilla yogurt also works if you prefer a sweeter crumb.
Directions for Nutella Banana Bread
Follow these steps for a tender, swirled Nutella banana bread.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides so you can lift the loaf out easily after baking.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- If your bananas are not already mashed, mash them until smooth using a fork, a handheld mixer, or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer. Add the softened butter and beat until combined and smooth.
- Add the brown sugar and mix briefly, then add the eggs one at a time, beating to combine after each addition. Stir in the Greek yogurt and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth.
- With the mixer on low speed (or fold by hand), add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the loaf tender.
- Pour about half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Drop spoonfuls of Nutella over the batter, spacing them evenly. Use a knife or the back of a spoon to gently swirl the Nutella into the batter.
- Spoon the remaining batter over the swirled layer, then drop the remaining Nutella on top and swirl again to create a marbled pattern.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 55 minutes to 1 hour. Check at 55 minutes using a toothpick inserted away from a Nutella swirl—if the toothpick comes out with a few dry crumbs but no wet batter, the loaf is done. If batter sticks, bake 5–10 minutes more and test again.
- Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Use the parchment overhang to lift the loaf from the pan and finish cooling on the rack. For warm slices, wait about 20 minutes before slicing.
Storage and Serving
Store the cooled loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days. You can freeze the fully cooled loaf (whole or sliced) for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
This bread is excellent on its own or paired with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. For breakfast, serve it with fresh fruit, yogurt, or a smoothie. A thin smear of butter on a warm slice is also delightful.
Substitutions and Variations
You can use homemade chocolate-hazelnut spread, cookie butter, peanut butter, almond butter, or even a maple pecan butter in place of Nutella. Any of these spreads can be dropped and swirled into the batter the same way—just be mindful of differences in sweetness and texture.
Recipe Details
- Author: Katherine | Love In My Oven
- Total time: about 1 hour 20 minutes (including prep and bake)
- Yield: 1 loaf (9×5)
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: approximately 1 hour
- Category: Bread
- Method: Oven bake
- Cuisine: American-style quick bread
Other Breads to Try
If you enjoy this loaf, you might also like other banana bread and loaf variations such as healthier banana bread, chocolate coconut banana bread, raspberry chocolate banana bread, or an apple cinnamon pull-apart bread. Nutella fans may also enjoy baked Nutella oatmeal, Nutella cinnamon rolls, Nutella muffins, or simple Nutella brownies made with a few ingredients.
Enjoy baking and savor every slice of this Nutella banana bread—swirled, moist, and full of cozy flavor.
