Inspiration behind this recipe… my trip to Hawaii
Hawaii has some of the best food I’ve ever eaten in my life. From the fancy restaurants to the road shacks, the food there is indescribably good. On a recent trip to Hawaii, I had some of the Best Grilled Banana Bread of my life at Kahuku Farms. For a list of all the delicious foods I ate in Hawaii, check out the 15 Best Things I Ate in 2022. Every store, restaurant, and shack I visited served up some kind of pineapple and coconut dish. From Pineapple Fried Rice to Coconut Shrimp to Coconut Cocktails to garnishing every cocktail with pineapple, it was a no-brainer that I had to make Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread. And once I visited Tropical Farms where the star ingredient was macadamia nut, I knew that would be my choice of nut in my Banana Bread because you can’t possibly make Banana Bread without nuts. Right? Well, I don’t know about you, but I love my nuts. I knew once I reached home, I was gonna make a Hawaiian-inspired Banana Bread, one that represents Hawaii. And that’s how this Hawaiian Banana Bread recipe came to life.
What is Hawaiian Banana Bread with Pineapple, Coconut & Macadamia Nuts?
Hawaiian Banana Bread is a variation of the traditional banana bread recipe that incorporates the flavors of Hawaii, in this case, pineapple, coconut, and macadamia nuts. These are the three most popular fruits and nuts I enjoyed on the island. Just a note: if you do visit the island of Maui, make sure you indulge in Maui’s Banana Bread which is apparently quite famous. When I do take my Maui vacation – someday, I plan on going to Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread which is supposedly the best banana bread on the island.
Alternate Names for this Recipe
This recipe can go by various names – Coconut Pineapple Loaf Cake, Hawaiian Banana Cake Recipe, Kona Banana Bread, Hawaiian Banana Macadamia Nut Bread, Coconut Pineapple Banana Bread, Banana Coconut Bread, and Pineapple Coconut Bread. Tried this recipe? If so, please leave a comment & rate this recipe. That would mean so much to me. If you’re on Instagram, please tag me so I can see your creations. I’m happy to share and mention you. Thank you! 2. Grease your 8.5″ loaf pan (9″ or 10″ works too). 3. Dry roast your macadamia nuts for a few minutes until slightly browned. 4. Once they cool, chop them up. Set aside. 6. Combine your wet ingredients in another large bowl – eggs, vanilla extract, mashed banana, and crushed pineapple with juice, and oil. 7. Mix the wet ingredients well. 8. Add your dry ingredients to the wet. Mix well, but don’t overmix the batter. 10. Fold the nuts and coconut into the batter. Again, do not overmix. 11. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan. Into the oven for 55-65 minutes at 350 degrees. 12. Use a clean knife to make sure the banana bread is not sticky on the inside. Allow your banana bread to cool completely and come to room temperature before cutting.
Enjoy this delicious banana bread for breakfast with a cup of coffee/tea. You can also enjoy it as an afternoon snack/dessert – any time of the day! It’s perfect for weekend brunch.
