Copycat Trader Joe's Banana Bread Recipe

I’ve found Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Mix to be the perfect canvas for creative customization. You can keep it classic with buttery flavors or jazz it up with seasonal fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, or even a cheeky drizzle of caramel on top.

How to make Trader Joe’s Banana Bread

Trader Joe’s Banana Bread is a ready-to-eat baked good sold in the store’s bakery section. It’s a moist, dense loaf made primarily with mashed bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, and butter or oil, giving it a naturally sweet, rich flavor and soft texture.

Ingredients

Basic Recipe:

1 box of Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Mix
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)
1/3 cup water

Optional Add-Ins:

1 ripe banana, mashed (for extra banana flavor and moistness)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup blueberries, raspberries, or diced strawberries
Pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg (for a warm, spiced flavor)

Instructions for Baking Trader Joe’s Banana Bread

Preheat Your Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9-inch loaf pan by greasing it with butter or oil, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Prepare the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Banana Bread Mix, beaten eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Stir the mixture gently until it just comes together. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the bread dense. If you’re adding extras like chocolate chips, nuts, or fruit, gently fold them in at this stage.
Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and use a spatula to spread it evenly.
Bake: Place the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 45-55 minutes. Keep an eye on the bread during the last 10 minutes—insert a toothpick in the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, it’s done!
Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Then, carefully transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Pro Tips for Perfect Banana Bread

Ripe Bananas are Your Best Friend: If you have ripe bananas on hand, feel free to mash one and add it to the batter, even when using the mix. Ripe bananas boost both the flavor and moisture level in the bread.
Don’t Overmix: Mix just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing activates the gluten in the flour, which can result in a dense or chewy texture.
Go (Creatively) Nuts: Trader Joe’s Walnuts are a popular mix-in, but don’t stop there! Pecans, slivered almonds, or even macadamia nuts work beautifully.
Experiment with Add-Ins: Try stirring in Trader Joe’s Mini Dark Chocolate Chips for a decadent treat or go tropical with shredded coconut and diced pineapple.
Make Muffins Instead: Want individual portions? Pour the batter into a muffin tin lined with cupcake liners and bake at 350°F for 18-22 minutes.
Up the Moisture Game: Replace half the oil with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for an ultra-moist loaf.
Storage Tips: To keep your banana bread fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also freeze sliced banana bread for up to three months—just thaw the slices as needed.

What to serve with

Trader Joe’s Banana Bread is a delight all on its own—moist, bursting with banana flavor, and easy to slice up for a quick snack or cozy breakfast. But why stop there?

Classic Butter

A generous smear of softened butter on a warm slice of banana bread is simple yet heavenly. The buttery richness complements the banana’s natural sweetness.
Try using Trader Joe’s Cultured Unsalted Butter for an elevated flavor.

Cream Cheese Frosting

For a more decadent option, spread cream cheese or whipped cream cheese on top. You could also mix honey or maple syrup with the cream cheese for a sweet twist.
Consider making a thin drizzle of cream cheese glaze for a dessert-like presentation.

Nut Butters

Almond butter, peanut butter, or cashew butter pair beautifully with banana bread. Add a sprinkle of coarse sea salt for an extra flavor kick.
Trader Joe’s Crunchy Almond Butter or their Peanut Butter with Flaxseed are great options.

Fruit Toppings

Add freshly sliced bananas, strawberries, or a dollop of Trader Joe’s Organic Reduced-Sugar Strawberry Preserves on top of a slice.
For a tropical vibe, try a spread of mango butter or pineapple preserves.

Honey or Maple Syrup

Drizzle a touch of honey or pure maple syrup for a natural sweetness boost. Trader Joe’s 100% Maple Syrup works perfectly here.

Ingredients Substitutes

The beauty of banana bread lies in its flexibility—there are plenty of potential substitutions that won’t sacrifice flavor or texture. I’ll walk you through a range of ingredient substitutions that can help you customize your loaf while maintaining that delicious Trader Joe’s banana bread goodness.

Substitutions for the Eggs

Eggs are traditionally used in banana bread to bind the ingredients and add moisture. If you don’t have eggs available (or need an alternative for vegan baking), try these substitutes:

Mashed Banana (Best for Banana Bread!): Replace 1 egg with 1/4 cup mashed ripe banana. This option blends perfectly into the flavors of banana bread and makes it even more naturally moist.
Add this in addition to the banana chunks or flavor already in the recipe.
Applesauce: Use 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce as a substitute for 1 egg. It brings moistness to the bread without altering the flavor too much.
Flaxseed Meal (Flax Egg): Combine one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with 2.5 tablespoons of water, then let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken. This mixture substitutes for 1 egg and works well in binding the batter.
Chia Seed Egg: Mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water and let it sit until it forms a gel-like consistency. This is a great vegan substitute.
Yogurt or Greek Yogurt: Replace 1 egg with 1/4 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt, which adds creaminess and moisture to the bread.

Substitutes for the Oil

Oil contributes to the moist texture of banana bread. If you’re looking for a lighter option or don’t have oil on hand, here are some alternatives:

Melted Butter: Swap oil with an equal amount of melted butter for a richer flavor and tender texture.
Coconut Oil: If you want a slightly tropical flavor, substitute 1:1 with melted coconut oil. It pairs beautifully with a banana.
Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream: Replace half (or all) of the oil with plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. These options add extra tang and moisture while cutting down on fat.
Applesauce: For a healthier alternative, replace the oil with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce. This lightens the overall texture while still keeping the bread moist.
Mashed Avocado: Creamy avocados can replace oil at a 1:1 ratio. This also sneaks in some extra nutrients and doesn’t interfere with the banana flavor.
Substitutions for Water: If the recipe calls for water, as Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Mix does, you can add flavor or creaminess by replacing it:
Milk or Milk Alternatives: Replace the water with an equal amount of regular milk, almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. This adds depth and creaminess to the bread.
Juice: For a fruity twist, use orange juice or pineapple juice in place of water. This works especially well with tropical add-ins like coconut or macadamia nuts.

Substitutions for Sugar

If your recipe includes adding sugar (or you want to add a bit to your Trader Joe’s mix), here are alternatives:

Brown Sugar: Swap regular granulated sugar 1:1 with brown sugar for a deeper, caramel-like sweetness that enhances banana bread’s flavor.
Coconut Sugar: A more natural option with a subtle molasses flavor; use it in a 1:1 ratio.
Honey or Maple Syrup: Use liquid sweeteners like honey or maple syrup to substitute granulated sugar. For every 1 cup of sugar, reduce to 3/4 cup honey or syrup and cut back on other liquids by 1-2 tablespoons.
Trader Joe’s Organic Maple Syrup or Raw Honey are great choices.
Monk Fruit Sweetener or Stevia: For a sugar-free option, use monk fruit sweetener or stevia. Check the product packaging for conversion ratios, as these are much sweeter than regular sugar.
Date Paste: Blend pitted dates with a bit of water to form a paste, and use that as a natural sweetener.

Substitutions for Flour

While Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Mix already has flour blended in, if you’re baking from scratch or need gluten-free options, here’s what you can do:

Whole Wheat Flour: Replace all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor and added fiber. Swap 1:1, but note that whole wheat flour may make the bread slightly denser.
Gluten-Free Flour Blend: Use a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour mix, such as Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour, to make your banana bread gluten-free.
Almond Flour: Replace up to half the amount of flour with almond flour for a denser, more nutrient-packed bread.
Oat Flour: Blend oats in a food processor to create oat flour, or purchase pre-made oat flour. Substitute up to half of the flour with oat flour to maintain a light, tender texture.
Coconut Flour: Coconut flour works differently than all-purpose flour and is highly absorbent. Start by replacing just 1/4 of the total flour with coconut flour and adding an extra egg or liquid to maintain consistency.

Final Thoughts

Trader Joe’s Banana Bread is delicious on its own, but you can level it up by spreading a bit of butter, cream cheese, or nut butter on a slice. It even pairs beautifully with a cup of coffee or tea for a perfect breakfast or an afternoon snack.

More Trader Joe’s Recipes:

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Banana Bread Recipes Trader Joe's Recipes

Copycat Trader Joe’s Banana Bread Recipe