If you have a weakness for rich, moist, and irresistibly gooey baked goods, then you are in for a real treat with this Nutella Banana Bread with Hazelnuts and Cinnamon Recipe. This delightful twist on classic banana bread combines the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with the nutty warmth of cinnamon and toasted hazelnuts, all beautifully swirled with luscious Nutella. Every bite melts in your mouth, offering a perfect balance of textures and flavors that feels like a cozy hug in dessert form. It’s not just a quick bread; it’s a celebration of comfort and indulgence that you’ll want to bake again and again.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The image shows a close-up of ripe bananas with brown spots, resting on a white marbled surface. In front of the bananas, there is a metal cup filled with thick, smooth chocolate spread that has a shiny texture and soft peaks. Behind the bananas, a clear glass jar is filled with light brown hazelnuts, and next to it are glass bowls containing light brown sugar and white sugar, adding a blurred background effect. A striped cloth with white and gray tones is also partly visible beneath the metal cup and bananas, with a hint of yellow fabric beneath. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

This Nutella Banana Bread with Hazelnuts and Cinnamon Recipe uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry and fridge. Each one is chosen not only for flavor but to create that perfect soft crumb, a hint of spice, and a beautiful golden crust with a delicious crunch from hazelnuts.

All purpose flour: The foundation of our bread, providing structure and the perfect crumb.
Baking soda and baking powder: These leavening agents help the bread rise beautifully and stay light.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors, ensuring the sweetness and spices shine.
Ground cinnamon: Adds a warm, aromatic spice that complements bananas and hazelnuts perfectly.
Granulated sugar and light brown sugar: A balanced duo for sweetness and moisture.
Canola or vegetable oil: Keeps the bread tender and moist without overpowering flavors.
Bananas: Ripe, medium-sized bananas contribute natural sweetness and creamy texture.
Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and give the bread its rich texture.
Pure vanilla extract: A small but essential ingredient that deepens the flavor profile.
Buttermilk: Adds moisture and gives a subtle tang that balances the sweetness beautifully.
Hazelnuts: Toasted and chopped for crunchy bursts throughout the bread.
Nutella: The star ingredient for swirls of creamy, chocolaty hazelnut bliss.
Raw sugar for sprinkling: Adds a delicate crunch and sparkle to the top crust.

How to Make Nutella Banana Bread with Hazelnuts and Cinnamon Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Hazelnuts

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Toast your hazelnuts for 8 to 10 minutes until they turn a rich golden brown and fill your kitchen with a heavenly nutty aroma. Once cooled, remove as much of the skins as possible by rubbing them in your hands or a towel, then chop them roughly. This step brings out the flavor and adds a crunch that perfectly complements the soft bread.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Combining all the dry ingredients now makes sure the baking agents and spices are evenly distributed, which helps the bread rise beautifully and taste perfectly spiced in every bite.

Step 3: Mash the Bananas and Combine Sugars and Oil

Peel and mash around four medium-sized bananas until smooth. In your stand mixer or mixing bowl, beat the granulated sugar, brown sugar, canola oil, and banana puree on medium-high speed for about 3 to 5 minutes. This mixture should be well blended and slightly fluffy, which helps give you that light, moist texture that makes this banana bread so special.

Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Gently whisk your eggs and vanilla extract together, then slowly incorporate them into the banana mixture at low speed. Mixing at this pace ensures the eggs combine smoothly without overworking the batter, keeping your bread tender and soft after baking.

Step 5: Alternate Adding Dry Ingredients and Buttermilk

Gradually add one-third of the dry ingredients, mixing just enough for them to be absorbed. Then pour in half the buttermilk and mix. Repeat this alternation with the remaining flour and buttermilk, finishing with the last third of the dry ingredients. This technique maintains the perfect balance of wet and dry, preventing overmixing and keeping the bread delicate and fluffy.

Step 6: Fold in Hazelnuts

Scrape the sides of your mixing bowl thoroughly, then fold in 1 cup of the chopped toasted hazelnuts by hand. Folding rather than stirring vigorously means those crunchy nuts stay intact and spread evenly throughout the bread, giving every slice a wonderful texture surprise.

Step 7: Assemble the Loaves with Nutella Swirls

Divide your batter between two prepared loaf pans, filling them halfway. Dollop 1/2 cup of softened Nutella over the batter in each pan. Using a butter knife or small spatula, swirl the Nutella gently to create pretty ribbons throughout the bread, but don’t over-mix. Cover with the second half of the batter, filling the pans almost full, then swirl an additional 1/4 cup of Nutella on top. Top each loaf with the remaining hazelnuts and sprinkle raw sugar for a final touch of crunch and sparkle.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, then rotate the pans and bake another 30 minutes. Lower the temperature to 325 degrees, rotate again, and bake an additional 20 to 30 minutes until the bread is golden brown and cracks appear on top. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Cooling for at least 15 minutes in the pans before turning out onto a rack ensures your loaves hold their shape beautifully.

How to Serve Nutella Banana Bread with Hazelnuts and Cinnamon Recipe

Two dark brown loaves of bread with rough cracked tops covered in light brown chopped nuts sit inside black baking pans. The texture on the bread tops looks crunchy and crumbly. The pans rest on a cloth with pale yellow, white, and grey stripes, which is laid on a white marbled surface. A pale beige oven mitt is placed near the front. The photo is taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

For an extra special touch, try serving slices with a pat of butter or a light drizzle of honey. A dusting of powdered sugar can bring a lovely contrast, or for a decadent treat, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to warm slices.

Side Dishes

This bread pairs wonderfully with fresh fruit like berries or orange segments, which add brightness and a juicy contrast to the dense, sweet bread. It also complements a cup of coffee or tea perfectly, making it a great choice for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack.

Creative Ways to Present

Cut the bread into thick slices and serve as French toast, drizzled with maple syrup and topped with toasted hazelnuts. Or, assemble hearty sandwiches with mascarpone cheese and sliced bananas for a delightful twist. The Nutella swirls inside make this bread picture-perfect when sliced, ideal for sharing at gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Wrap your Nutella Banana Bread with Hazelnuts and Cinnamon Recipe tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. It will keep fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for about a week. Keeping it sealed prevents it from drying out and preserves its lovely moistness.

Freezing

You can freeze the bread whole or cut into slices for convenience. Wrap well in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to protect from freezer burn, then store for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge, or at room temperature for a few hours.

Reheating

To bring back that fresh-baked warmth, reheat slices in a toaster oven or regular oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 10 minutes. For a quicker option, microwave slices for about 20 seconds, but be careful not to overheat or the bread may become dry.

FAQs

Can I use less sugar in this Nutella Banana Bread with Hazelnuts and Cinnamon Recipe?

Absolutely! You can reduce the sugar slightly to suit your taste. Keep in mind that the bananas and Nutella add natural sweetness, so cutting back by 1/4 cup should still yield a moist and flavorful bread.

What if I don’t have buttermilk?

No worries! You can make a simple substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes. This will give you the acidity needed to react with the baking soda and help with the bread’s texture.

Can I replace hazelnuts with other nuts?

Yes, walnuts or pecans work well as alternatives. They will add their own distinct crunch and flavor, but toasted hazelnuts really complement the Nutella beautifully in this recipe.

How ripe should the bananas be?

For the best flavor and sweetness, use bananas that are very ripe—yellow with lots of brown spots or even slightly soft to the touch. The riper the bananas, the more natural sweetness and moisture they add to the bread.

Why do I need to swirl the Nutella instead of mixing it completely?

Swirling the Nutella creates beautiful pockets of melted chocolate-hazelnut goodness throughout the bread, which add bursts of flavor and interesting texture contrasts. Fully mixing it would lose this lovely effect.

Final Thoughts

I hope you try this Nutella Banana Bread with Hazelnuts and Cinnamon Recipe soon because it is pure joy baked into every slice. The blend of bananas, warm cinnamon, crunchy hazelnuts, and creamy Nutella is a match made in heaven. Whether for breakfast, a snack, or dessert, this bread will become a beloved classic in your kitchen, just like it is in mine. Happy baking and even happier eating!