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Top-down view of sliced rhubarb bread with pink stalks baked on top, resting on parchment paper.

Rhubarb Banana Bread

A delightful twist on a classic, this Rhubarb Banana Bread combines the sweetness of ripe bananas with the tart, vibrant flavor of fresh rhubarb. Perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a light dessert.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 280

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
  • 3 medium ripe bananas mashed (about 1 cup)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Mix-in
  • 1 cup rhubarb diced into 1/2-inch pieces

Equipment

  • 9x5 inch Loaf Pan
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Medium Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Rubber Spatula
  • Fork or potato masher
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons

Method
 

Prepare for Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
Mix Dry Ingredients
  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
Combine Wet Ingredients
  1. In a separate medium mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth with a few small lumps remaining. Stir in the melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
Combine Wet & Dry
  1. Pour the wet banana mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps of flour are okay.
Add Rhubarb & Bake
  1. Gently fold in the diced rhubarb until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  2. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
  3. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can tent it loosely with aluminum foil.
Cool & Serve
  1. Once baked, remove the loaf pan from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before carefully removing the bread from the pan. Allow the bread to cool completely on the wire rack before slicing and serving. This helps prevent it from crumbling.

Notes

For an extra crunch, you can add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter along with the rhubarb. Store leftover banana bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.