Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread was specialty of Grandma Mills. It’s a delicious dessert bread that cooks up fluffy and moist in the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread
Banana Bread is one of those sweets that just about everyone loves. Jan Borden Freeman is a wonderful baker, as a result of her Grandma Mills teaching her to bake when she was in her 20’s.
Jan purchased an Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker last year and has been cooking up a storm. Her most favorite and prized recipe from her Grandma is her Grandma Mills’ Banana Nut Bread. She realized that baked goods were not only possible in a pressure cooker, but they come out very moist and delicious.
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Ingredients for Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread
- All Purpose Flour
- Bananas
- Butter
- Sugar
- Baking Soda
- Sea Salt
- Walnuts – totally optional
Jan decided to convert her Grandma’s famous Banana Nut Bread and the very popular Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread was born.
Nordic Ware 6-Cup Bundt Pan
Click to purchase this Nordic Ware 6 cup Bundt Pan.
The above photo of Jan’s cake is so beautiful, so I wanted to show case it. However, Jan says she gets her best results using this little Nordic Ware 6 cup Bundt Pan.
Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread is always a hit with Jan and her family. All the kids’ kids, still make this wonderful bread and remember their Grandma.
Lottie Bell Donnell Mills “Grandma Mills”
Jan wanted to give the history behind the bread and talk a little about Grandma Mills. She says: “Lottie Mills was a dear Christian woman from Oklahoma City. She loved to cook meals and bake desserts. She loved to have people over for a meal and dessert, and to share her love of Christ and the gospel.”
Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills’ Banana Nut Bread
How To Keep Sweets from Taking on Taste From Savory Recipes
- Easy.
- Get yourself a second and third silicone gasket/seal. They are super cheap.
- They come in colors. We use one for sweets, one for savory and one for strong smelling recipes like my incredible Instant Pot Butter Chicken recipe.
In a Medium Mixing Bowl, add butter, sugar and eggs. Using a Hand Mixer, beat until combined. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. There should be no sugar granules left in the bowl.
Place bananas in a Small Mixing Bowl and mash well. Add the mashed bananas to the butter, eggs, sugar mixture and gently beat to combine.
Some people like nuts in their bread, others don’t. This is a personal choice.
Don’t Scoop from the Container or Bag of Flour
If you don’t read anything else of this story, please at least read my article on How to Properly Measure Flour.
I don’t want you to end up with a rubbery or a brick Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread and then blame the recipe. Proper measurement of Flour is essential!
Besides incorrectly measuring the flour, over working a batter will also lead to a heavy and dense bread.
Add the rest of the dry ingredients to the Flour
So, now that you know How to Properly Measure Flour, measure out the two cups of Flour. You did read that article, right????
Okay, then, add the rest of the dry ingredients into the Medium Mixing Bowl and beat just until combined. Do not over work your batter. Doing so will cause a very heavy and dense bread.
If using walnuts or your favorite nut, gently fold them in now and combine by hand. If you want to use Chocolate Chips, hand fold them in now.
Grandma and Grandpa Mills with their Children
Grandma and Grandpa Mills had five children. The above photo shows the lovely couple with their children.
Jan goes on to say: “This Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread is just one of her many recipes. She created this Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread many, many years ago. Her recipe was in her head and she measured the ingredients with the palm of her hand or by the pinch.
One day we made a loaf of banana bread with her. As she eyeballed the ingredients in the palm of her hand or by a pinch, we measured everything and wrote it down. I’ve been making Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread since the 1970s but she had been making it for decades before she shared the recipe with us.”
Pour the Batter into a Cake Pan
If you don’t have a 6 cup Bundt Pan, grease a 7 inch Push Pan or 7 inch Cake Pan and place a Parchment Round in the bottom. Grease the Parchment Round too.
Pour the batter in and jiggle the Bundt Pan, so that the batter is even. You may need more time, if using a Cake Pan instead of a Bundt Pan. The Bundt Pan is the preferred pan and will give you better results, time and time again.
Jan continues:
“A few months after I got the Instant Pot, I saw a pressure recipe for a carrot bread or cake. I thought I would experiment with Grandma’s recipe. I love the way it turned out. The taste reminds me of Grandma Mills, but the Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread is more moist because cooking it in the pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread cooks for about the same amount of time as in the oven. As I said, it’s more moist…and it’s fun being able to use my Instant Pot. During the scorching hot summer months, I can still make Banana Nut Bread without heating up the house. Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread freezes well. I cut it and wrap each piece, individually.”
Place Pan into Pressure Cooker
Jan also uses a 6 cup Bundt Pan (which I find gives a more even bake) for this recipe to change things up a bit. Grease and flour the bottom of the pan, since parchment paper wont work well.
Add some water to the bottom of your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker and place a Trivet inside.
Place the cake pan of batter on top of the Stainless Steel Trivet. You are all ready to bake!
Banana Bread will rise quite a bit
Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread
- A 6 cup Bundt Pan works best.
- If you don’t measure the Flour properly, you WILL end up with a rubber/brick Banana Bread. Please read my article How to Properly Measure Flour.
- Over working the batter will cause a dense and heavy bread.
- Allow the pressure to release for a bit. Grandma Mill’s Banana Nut Bread will rise nicely.
- Allow it to cool, before slicing.
Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills’ Banana Nut Bread, Bundt Style
Jan hopes you will enjoy her Instant Pot Grandma Mills’ Banana Nut Bread, as much as she and her family have been enjoying this for years.
One of my readers, Elisa, says: “I just made the best banana bread I have ever had. Used this recipe with following adjustments. Added 1 tsp of vanilla, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, dash of cloves and 1/4 cup of apple sauce. UNBELIEVABLE!!!”
Thank you, Elisa. I am so thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe. 🙂
More Instant Pot Dessert Recipes to Make:
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Bundt Cake w/Butterscotch
- Instant Pot Bhapa Doi {Steamed Yogurt Pudding}
- Choco-Spice Layer Cake w/Mocha Buttercream Frosting
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Bundt Cake w/Butterscotch
- Pressure Cooker New York Cheesecake [Instant Pot] – the BEST recipe ever! You must make this right away.
Enjoy this recipe from the oven or from the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker.
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- J.A. Henckels Classic 8 inch Chef’s Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- di Oro Living Silicone Spatulas Set
- LamsonSharp Chef’s Slotted Turner– I totally love this spatula!
- Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- Stainless Steel Tall/Short Trivet & Egg Cooker Set
- 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Small 1.5 Quart “Pot in Pot” Mixing Bowl
- Cuisinart Electric Hand Mixer
- 7 inch Parchment Paper Round
- Nordic Ware 6 cup Bundt Pan
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter room temperature
- 1 cup White Sugar
- 2 large Eggs room temperature
- 3 medium Bananas mashed
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour properly measured
- 1.5 teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 cup Walnuts optional (or other nut)
Optional Add Ins
- 4 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 4 oz Toffee Chips
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Add bananas to a small bowl and with a potato masher, mash bananas well. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl add butter, sugar and eggs.
- Beat at high speed until light and creamy, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl, so that all sugar is mixed into the butter and eggs.
- Add the mashed bananas and beat at high speed to combine.
- Add all dry ingredients, except walnuts and beat using medium speed just combined. Do not over mix the batter.
- With a spatula, gently fold in walnuts and/or chips, if using.
Conventional Oven
- Pour into greased/floured 8 inch loaf pan.
- Bake at 350° 60-70 minutes.
- Remove from pan and cool on rack.
Pressure Cooker
- Grease a 6 cup Bundt Pan. Line the bottom with a parchment round or paper, if you like.
- Pour in batter and smooth it out so batter is level.
- Add 1.5 cups of water into Pressure Cooker cooking pot. Place Trivet in Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
- Place cake pan on Trivet. Lightly cover the pan with a piece of paper towel and then a piece of foil.
- Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 55-60 minutes.
- When Beep sounds, allow a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release. Allow cake to cool in pan.
Notes
How to Serve Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread
- Hot coffee
- Hot Tea
- Hot Cocoa
- Scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Toasted with a slather of butter
- Turn it into French Toast!
Nutrition
PIN this Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills’ Banana Nut Bread!
The ONLY way I now make Banana Bread! Excellent! The flour measuring really makes a big difference. Thank you for sharing. Any thoughts if I’d like to add cranberries to this recipe?
Thank you, Rita. I am glad you enjoyed the banana bread. Jill
Turned out wonderfully. I didn’t have white sugar so I used 1 c. coconut sugar, it’s perfect for those who love their bakes not too sweet. I made it in my 3qt Mini Ultra Instant Pot, baking for 22 minutes. It’s enough batter for 3 mini cakes (Amazon sells a 3-cup Bundt pan). One corner was either raw or wet, I can’t tell,but I forgot to cover. It was smash hit with my husband who does not like overly rich cake.
Thank you, Michelle. So glad you enjoyed. Jill