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Blueberry Banana Bread

5 from 14 votes
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posted: 06/14/23

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Blueberry Banana Bread is an easy twist on our classic banana bread recipe that you will fall in love with. Use fresh or frozen blueberries in this simple delicious recipe!

Overhead photo of blueberry banana bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

Whenever my kids see bananas on the counter that start to go south, they get excited. They know that banana bread is in their future.

This Blueberry Banana Bread is an easy twist on our Banana Bread recipe. It is quick to make, and perfect to use fresh blueberries this summer. But, it also works perfectly with frozen blueberries, making it a great recipe all year long.

Reader Review

I just made this and you weren’t kidding! This is a most delightful and delicious treat! In fact it is so addictive I had to share it immediately – as in, get it out of the house, because I kept going back and snacking again and again. Rest of the family agrees: a winner and they want it at least once a week. That’s quite a compliment in our house! Thank you for this wonderful recipe!

How to Make Blueberry Banana Bread

This is just a brief overview so you can see how easy to is to make banana bread with blueberries. For the full recipe and all of the measurements, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  1. Mix together the dry ingredients. In a large bowl combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  2. Mix together the wet ingredients. In a smaller bowl, mix together the melted (and cooled) butter sugar, yogurt, eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla.
  3. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. You want to mix them until they just combine, being careful not to over mix.
  4. Fold in the blueberries. See my tips below.
  5. Bake. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bread comes out with just a few crumbs. (Please see my tips below about what pan to use). After the bread comes out of the oven allow it to cool in the pan for ten minutes before removing it and letting it cool completely on a wire rack.
overhead of banana bread with blueberries in a bread pan on a cooling rack

Blueberries for Banana Bread

One of the best things about this bread recipe is that you can use fresh or frozen blueberries in it. Either will work and result in a great loaf of banana bread. If you choose to use frozen blueberries, do not thaw them before adding them to the batter.

The Perfect Bread Pan

Whenever someone tells me that my banana bread recipe didn’t work for them, the first thing I want to know is what their pan is like. A bread pan – which for many people is only used for banana bread – is the key to banana bread success. I’ve made this recipe in many different pans, and I can tell you that this pan from USA Baking is by far the best. The metal conducts heat perfectly, and I can’t recommend it enough.

TOP PICK

The Best Bread Pan

I've actually bought a second one of these so that I can double my recipes and make two loaves at once!
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Overhead photo of blueberry banana bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

Best Banana Bread

This recipe is a quick riff on my Banana Bread recipe. That recipe has tons of great reviews. Just like this one, it comes together easily and will be one that you can come back to over and over again.

Banana Bread

This simple and easy Banana Bread is going to be your go to recipe from here on out! With 10 minutes hands on time, simple tips and easy instructions, you will love this recipe.
front view of banana bread; first half of loaf has been sliced

Tips and Tricks for Blueberry Banana Bread

There are a few things that will help to ensure that this banana blueberry bread turns out perfectly. We already talked about the pan above, so let’s move on to the actual bread ingredients.

  • Measure the flour correctly. To do this, whisk your flour in the container (or bag) it is stored in. Then, using a large spoon, scoop it into a dry measuring cup. Finally, level it off with the flat edge of a spatula. Measuring this way will prevent the flour from packing, causing you to use more flour than the recipe calls for.
  • Double check you are using baking soda, not baking powder. While both are used in recipes, they work very differently. You need baking soda for this recipe.
  • Ensure that the baking soda is fresh. Baking soda needs to be replaced every six months. To test yours, drop a little in some vinegar. It should bubble right away.
  • Ensure your melted butter in cooled. If you take steaming hot butter out of the microwave and pour it into your batter, you could actually start the eggs cooking before the recipe hits the oven. We want to avoid that.
picture of a bunch of banana that are speckled brown and ready to be made into banana bread

Bananas for Banana Bread

Everyone knows that you need brown bananas to make banana bread. I’m not sure everyone knows why.

The reason for the brown bananas is twofold. First, you want them to be the right texture, nice and mushy so they blend perfectly into the batter. Second, as the banana sits on your counter and ripens, it releases more sugar and actually tastes sweeter, meaning you need less sugar in your recipe.

So, while it is possible to bake your bananas to achieve the first goal – a mushy banana – you will be missing out on that sweetness. It doesn’t mean that you can’t bake your bananas brown, just know the reasons not to.

Overhead photo of blueberry banana bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

Storing Blueberry Banana Bread

This banana bread with blueberries can be stored in an airtight container for up to four days on the kitchen counter. It does not need to be refrigerated.

Freezing Banana Bread

If you would like to lengthen the life of your banana bread, you can slice and freeze it.

  1. Cut the banana bread into slices.
  2. Lay the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  3. Freeze the slices for 4 to 6 hours.
  4. Transfer the slices to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to three months.

When you are ready to eat a slice, just let it thaw on the counter for about 30 minutes.

FAQ

Can I use something else instead of yogurt?

Yes! The yogurt in this recipe can be replaced with sour cream.

Can I use frozen blueberries?

Yes! You sure can. Just be sure not to thaw them before adding them to the batter.

Overhead photo of blueberry banana bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

Other Banana Bread Recipes

If you make this blueberry banana bread recipe, or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Overhead photo of blueberry banana bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.
5 from 14 votes

Blueberry Banana Bread

Serves: 10 slices
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Blueberry Banana Bread is an easy twist on our classic banana bread recipe that you will fall in love with. Use fresh or frozen blueberries in this simple delicious recipe!

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (300 grams)
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda (4.5 grams)
  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt (9 grams)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (56.7 grams) melted and cooled
  • 3/4 cup sugar (148.5 grams)
  • 3/4 cup yogurt or sour cream (170.25 grams)
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 3 very ripe bananas mashed well
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract (9.3 grams)
  • 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen but unthawed (155 grams)

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 by 5 inch bread pan with cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
    2 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • In a large bowl whisk together the butter and sugar. Then whisk in the yogurt, eggs, bananas, and vanilla.
    4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup yogurt, 2 eggs, 3 very ripe bananas, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Gently add the flour mixture to the liquid ingredients, folding them together until just combined. Be careful not to over mix.
  • Gently stir in the blueberries. The batter will be very thick.
    1 cup blueberries
  • Pour the batter into the bread pan and bake for 65 to 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the bread comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
  • Let the bread cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove and transfer to a cooling rack for an hour before slicing.
  • Because of the fresh blueberries, this recipe won't last as long as a traditional banana bread. You want to store this in an air tight clear container and eat within two to three days.
Serving: 1slice Calories: 278kcal (14%) Carbohydrates: 50g (17%) Protein: 6g (12%) Fat: 6g (9%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 46mg (15%) Sodium: 226mg (10%) Potassium: 230mg (7%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 22g (24%) Vitamin A: 227IU (5%) Vitamin C: 5mg (6%) Calcium: 48mg (5%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Overhead photo of blueberry banana bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

did you make this

Blueberry Banana Bread

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

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  1. Jean says

    I love your recipes and can’t wait to try this one. It sounds delish!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you enjoy it, Jean!

  2. Fran says

    Hi! Can you use Greek yogurt ?

    • Lisa Longley says

      You can!

  3. Angela says

    5 stars
    I just made this and you weren’t kidding! This is a most delightful and delicious treat! In fact it is so addictive I had to share it immediately – as in, get it out of the house, because I kept going back and snacking again and again. Rest of the family agrees: a winner and they want it at least once a week. That’s quite a compliment in our house! Thank you for this wonderful recipe!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Angela, thank you so much for taking the time to come back and leave this sweet comment! I’m so happy it was a hit with your crew.

  4. Herbert Sydney Johnson says

    I will make this on Sunday and let you known how I do. Wife and kids to please. I will do the Blueberry coffee cake. Have a great week.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope everyone loves it, Herbert!

  5. Kris Marie says

    5 stars
    I made this today! I only had two very ripe bananas and used frozen blueberries and it was absolutely delicious! I did use one teaspoon banana extract and one teaspoon of vanilla too. A keeper for sure! Thank you!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you liked this, Kris!

  6. Ray says

    5 stars
    Excellent banana bread. Not too sweet. Goes great topped with a bit of whipped cream.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you like it, Ray!

  7. Emily Reed says

    What kind of yogurt?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’ve used low fat, full fat, and Greek, and they all work great.

  8. Diane M. says

    I made this and during baking it didn’t rise like it should have. It took longer than 70 minutes to get done. I think perhaps the pan wasn’t big enough for the amount of batter that was used. I used that loaf pan that you recommended. My feeling is I think I should have used a larger loaf pan as it didn’t have enough of room to expand and rise. Can you give me your thoughts?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I made the same loaf you see in the photos in the pan that was listed. Without being there, it’s hard to know what happened. I’ve had some readers use baking powder instead of baking soda, which would account for what you described. Additionally if the baking soda is old, it would prevent the bread from rising as it should.

  9. Fiona says

    What are the macros for this bread please?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m sorry, we don’t calculate macros for our recipes, but you can find the nutritional information at the bottom of the recipe card.

  10. Cheryl Mooney says

    Your recipes are always tasty & completely healthy!💓🤗💓🙏💓🤗

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying them!

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