Chai-Spiced Banana Bread
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Infused with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and allspice, this chai-spiced banana bread is a lovely twist on basic banana bread.
Chai is the actual word for tea in many countries but when we say chai in the States, we’re usually referring to Masala chai, which is a smooth and calming beverage made of black tea, milk, and fragrant Indian spices. Its flavor goes beautifully with banana bread, so I’ve taken one of my favorite banana bread recipes and subtly infused it with warm chai spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice.
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“This is my favorite banana bread recipe on your site! I think the spices and the sour cream really make it great! I served it at a get together and got so many compliments on it…Yum!”
What You’ll Need To Make Chai-Spiced Banana Bread
As with all banana bread recipes, use very ripe bananas for the most intense banana flavor and a texture that mashes easily.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by creaming the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time.
Incorporating well after each addition.
In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
Whisk well.
Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture.
Mix to blend.
Add the mashed bananas, sour cream and vanilla.
Mix well.
Transfer the batter to a greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.
Bake for 60-70 minutes. Let cool in the pan for about ten minutes.
Then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
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Chai-Spiced Banana Bread
Infused with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and allspice, this chai-spiced banana bread is a lovely twist on basic banana bread.
Ingredients
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off with a knife
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas, from 2-3 bananas
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl or electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs one at a time, incorporating well after each addition. Scrape down sides of bowl as necessary.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and salt. Add to the butter mixture and beat gently until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream and vanilla and mix on low speed until just combined. Gently stir in nuts if using.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until deep golden brown and cake tester inserted into center comes out clean, 60-70 minutes. Let rest in pan for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely. This bread is best enjoyed warm out of the oven or toasted.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The bread can be frozen for up to 3 months. After it is completely cooled, wrap it securely in aluminum foil, freezer wrap or place in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (12 servings)
- Serving size: 1 slice (without nuts)
- Calories: 232
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated fat: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Sugar: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Sodium: 271 mg
- Cholesterol: 56 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
This is so good! I have made several batches, put in the smaller bread pans and gave away for gifts to family and friends this year. Everyone loves it and I have shared your recipe with them as everyone asks! I love your recipes they are consistently delicious!
Happy New Year!
Five stars for this delicious bread, which goes very quickly in our home! Delicious! Thank you Jen for making so many around the world happy in the kitchen!
I had some “dead” bananas that I wanted to use up and I’m so glad I made this. I easily threw it together on a Saturday morning, with kids tugging at my leg trying to drink my coffee while it was still hot. This was very tasty with the right kind of spice and it made the house smell like fall. Thanks Jenn!
Can I use milk or half & half in place of sour cream? I would use Greek yogurt but I’m out of that too ugh. I wanna make this so bad! Thanks!!
You’re right that Greek yogurt would work, but unfortunately, milk or half and half won’t work. Sorry!
Absolutely delicious. Make exactly as written. I use freshly ground spices, which I think makes a difference. My new go-to banana bread.
This is excellent. I’ve had 1 slice and I can’t imagine ever baking any other banana bread moving forward. Thanks for this, and for all the other outstanding recipes!
Made this today. So good! So moist. This recipe is a keeper.
I love the flavour of this recipe, but I keep finding the loaf comes out too dense (almost bordering on not cooked in the middle). This is quite frustrating because I always check by poking it with a skewer, and don’t take it out of the oven until the skewer comes out clean.
I’ve tried increasing the temperature in the oven, but I just started to burn the top of the loaf.
Does anyone have any advice? I really want to get this recipe perfect because it tastes so good!
Hi Mary, sorry you’re having a problem with this! Are you making any adjustments to the recipe?
This is our go-to banana bread recipe. It’s the perfect moistness and texture and the mix of spices takes it to a whole other level of deliciousness!
I forgot to add that we use 2/3 the amount of sugar and that’s the perfect sweetness for us.
The best banana bread!- enjoyed by all