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Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread [Grandma Mills]

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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.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread

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

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"

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

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

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

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 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 7 inch Cake Pan

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

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

Banana Bread will rise quite a bit

Tips and Tricks for Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread

  1. A 6 cup Bundt Pan works best.
  2. 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.
  3. Over working the batter will cause a dense and heavy bread.
  4. Allow the pressure to release for a bit. Grandma Mill’s Banana Nut Bread will rise nicely.
  5. Allow it to cool, before slicing.
Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills' Banana Nut Bread, Bundt Style

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:

Enjoy this recipe from the oven or from the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker.

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

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Here is the handy printable recipe:

Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills' Banana Nut Bread, Bundt Style

Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread

4.98 from 41 votes
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Pressure Release: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 157kcal
Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

Optional Add Ins

US Customary - Metric

Recommended Products

Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
J.A. Henckels Classic 8 inch Chef's Knife
Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
Potato Masher
Kitchen Scale
6 cup Bundt Pan

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

Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Banana Nut Bread
Amount Per Serving
Calories 157 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 52mg17%
Sodium 371mg16%
Potassium 242mg7%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 105IU2%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 0.8mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisOldGalCooks or tag #thisoldgalcooks!
© ThisOldGal.com - Sharing the recipe link to any of my recipes posts are both encouraged and appreciated. Unauthorized and improperly attributed or non-attributed use of this material, including screen shots, copy/paste of full recipes to any social media site, website, mobile application or service (e.g., copymethat, recipe keeper, pepper) or cookbook, without the requisite attribution or otherwise with express written permission from Jill Selkowitz is strictly prohibited. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

PIN this Pressure Cooker Grandma Mills’ Banana Nut Bread!

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Comments

  1. Brenna says

    Do you know anything about substituting the flour with almond, coconut, or some other gluten free flour? I’d love to give it a try but don’t want to waste expensive gf flour. Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Katie says

    I would love to make these in silicone muffin cups in the IP. Do you have a suggestion as to how long I should cook them?

    Reply

  3. joyofmacs says

    I just made this. Another winner here. Moist and delish. And so attractive. sent away for the 6C bundt pan, it was fun to use. Love that you provide links to the equipment you use. I now have a large, deep drawer in my side board devoted to my smart pot accessories. Thanks again for all the tips, photos and recipes. I am still learning and what you provide is so helpful.

    Reply

    • Jill says

      Hello. I am so glad you enjoyed the Banana Nut Bread. Sounds like you are enjoying cooking, which is awesome! Thank you for your comments. Jill

      Reply

  4. Mary Jona says

    Can almond flour be used? I am a diabetic and really can’t use all purpose flour anymore…Unless you have another flour suggestion. Thanks!

    Reply

  5. Bridget Kathleen Booth says

    I have several freezer bags of mashed bananas in either 1 c or 2 c quantities. Do you know what volume 3 bananas will equal?
    By the way have made this recipe before from Jan’s posting on Instant Pot file share. If I’m not mistaken, you are recommending 1 1/2 t soda and I think original one said 1 t.
    Is that because you need more soda in pressure cooker than oven?.

    Cheers.

    Reply

  6. Michael Benear says

    Just made this. Smells awesome!! Do I have to wait for it to completely cool before taking out of pan? Thanks!

    Reply

  7. Vicki B says

    4 stars
    I can’t wait to try this. I have been weighing flour ar right around 125 for a long time now due to getting proper weights for bread in my Zo bread maker. Just wish all recipes were written for the proper weights. When I make the no-knead artisan bread, it definitely wasn’t written with the 125 grams in mind.

    Reply

  8. Julie Stowell says

    5 stars
    I made this today in my breville. I subbed blueberries for the nuts, it came out wonderful. Thank you for this incredibly moist and yummy recipe.

    Reply

  10. Nirmala pillai says

    Your recipie was so easy to understand that I turned out a perfect, moist, sweet cooker based Banana bread????
    I have not tried to bake or make any such stuff as kitchen was not my territory. I was a career person now retired .
    My first attempt was so good that I literally danced with this beauty .
    The cake or bread as one may choose to call it is demolished and eaten by all at home.
    A heart felt thank you to you and making me feel happy because I could make a banana bread.

    Reply

  11. Linda says

    LOVE this recipe! thank you for sharing it with us.

    Having said that, I’ve always used my 6 cup bundt pan, but would like to make smaller bread pan sized loaves for gift giving. Suggestion on how to adjust the time for the smaller size?

    Reply

  12. Carolina Bautista says

    I would like to make small muffins/ cupcake size. I have a 6 cupcake silicone pan that fits in my ppcxl. How much time do you recommend?

    Reply

  13. Sharon Texada says

    Newbie here~~when you use like a bunch pan or any other kinds of Pan’s Do you just set the bundy pan inside the IP ? And will a regular bundt pan work in the 7-1 DUO ?

    Reply

    • Jill says

      Hi Sharon~

      You would need to use a trivet inside the Pressure Cooker with water in the bottom. You’ll need a smaller Bundt pan than what you are probably used to using.

      Jill

      Reply

  14. Rachel says

    Hi Jill! I followed the instructions but my bread still isn’t done. It isn’t brown and looks quite gooey. Any idea how much long r I should cook it? I’m using a Fat Daddio in an Instant Pot. Thanks so much! I love your website.

    Reply

      • Renee W says

        I am just now making this. Following the instructions and using a 6 in push pan, I had enough batter to fill up an 8 oz or so ramekin. So one big one for the family and one mini cake for me to take to work in the morning for breakfast.

  18. Connie says

    This looks fabulous, but I have one question. Do you cover the pan with aluminum foil before cooking in the instant pot? I don’t see it covered in any of the pictures but it seems like it would make the cake gooey from the steam if it were not covered.

    Reply

      • Connie says

        Thanks Jill for the quick reply. I have three overripe bananas begging to be turned into something edible and with 100 degree temps today, the Instant Pot is the only possible way that banana bread will be made today.

      • Sheryl says

        Hi, instructions say to cover it. I did cover and paper towel stuck to it. If I don’t, won’t it be soggy? I used a pan that is circular with a whole, similar to bundt. I liked the results better in 6 inch fat daddio push pan. It was higher and prettier like yours. Thanks for the recipe.
        One more thing, I used your tips on making yogurt. I usually use skim but went for 2% and it was yummy. I boil milk in the microwave though.

      • Jill says

        Hi Sheryl~

        Don’t worry about covering the banana bread. Some people like to and others don’t. Glad your yogurt was yummy.

        Jill

  19. KELLY S ELLIOTT says

    If you use a bundt pan would you still use parchment paper? Looks delicious looking forward to making this.

    Reply

  20. Tracey says

    5 stars
    I miss Grandma Mills, she was an amazing woman. I’ll never forget her banana nut bread, chocolate pie or cheesecake. And her talks of life, salvation and eternity.

    Reply

    • Jill says

      Hi Tracey~

      I hope this post is a nice memory for you and your family. Your Grandma’s name and banana bread is being talked about and baked, all over the World.

      Jill

      Reply

      • jan says

        5 stars
        Jill, you did an amazing write up of Grandma Mills’ Banana Nut Bread. Thank-you for taking the time to do it and sharing all over the world.

      • Jill says

        Hi Jan~

        Thank YOU for the honor of allowing me to post your wonderful Grandma’s story and Banana Nut Bread recipe. It was definitely my pleasure. I am sure your Grandma is smiling down at the millions of people who are reading or who will read her story and will then make her delicious dessert.

        Jill