Caribbean · Baking
Jamaican Banana Bread
Moist, warmly spiced banana bread with optional raisins, walnuts, and dark chocolate.
1loaf15 minprep50–60 minbake350°Foven
From Dianne's kitchen
A taste of childhood
This banana bread brings Dianne back to Jamaica and the familiar aroma of home baking.
Ripe bananas and warm island spices make every slice tender, comforting, and full of flavor.
What you'll need
Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas
- ½ cup melted butter
- ½ cup sugar or honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Pinch each allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup toasted walnuts, optional
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chunks, optional
Step by step
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F and grease a standard loaf pan.
- Whisk sugar with melted butter. Mash in bananas, then stir in eggs, sour cream, and vanilla.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a second bowl.
- Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined.
- Fold in raisins, chocolate, and walnuts if using.
- Bake 50–60 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a rack before slicing.
Dianne's kitchen tip
The riper the banana, the better
Very ripe bananas bring natural sweetness and the best texture.
Enjoy warm with butter or a drizzle of honey for a true Jamaican-style treat.