Easy Banana Bread Recipe

This easy banana bread recipe is my mom’s classic banana bread recipe. It’s an incredibly moist banana bread that is made with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry! This is one banana bread recipe you won’t want to miss.

The best banana bread recipe

There are a few things in the culinary world that I am very passionate about:

-That cheesecake is superior to all other desserts.

-That scones have a bad reputation as being dry and crumbly when–if made properly–they are little flaky bites of heaven (my favorite recipes include these Orange Cream Scones and this Lemon Blueberry Scone recipe).

-And that my mom’s banana bread is hands down the best banana bread I have ever had. 

A friend in college once made his mom’s sour cream banana bread recipe to disprove my theory that my classic banana bread recipe (made without sour cream) was the best recipe, and guys? He was dead wrong. My recipe, hands down, blew his out of the water. It has the perfect amount of mashed bananas–it gives this recipe intense banana flavor (you can see all of the flecks of banana in the picture) while also making it such a moist banana bread recipe. It’s sweet and simple with a tender and soft crumb, and it’s the perfect cure for any overripe bananas (it’s also the perfect cure for a bad day–as they say, Mom always knows best). It’s been my family’s favorite recipe and comfort food of choice for years!

So let’s get to making my favorite banana bread recipe that comes out perfectly every single time. You will not be disappointed!

Reasons Why I Love This Homemade Banana Bread:

• Texture: This banana bread has the best texture. It’s a fluffy banana quick bread that has a very tender crumb, but it doesn’t get crumbly or fall apart. It holds together well. 
• Moisture: This is a very moist banana bread recipe! I know. The majority of us don’t love that word, but guys, it is what it is. 😂 No one likes a dry and crumbly bread and this banana bread is perfectly moist. 
• Easy Ingredients: I am 99% confident you have all of the ingredients in your pantry! There isn’t anything out of the ordinary–not even sour cream or greek yogurt. This recipe is so good it doesn’t even need it and it makes it such an easy recipe to whip up!
• One Bowl: Okay, this is basically a one bowl banana bread recipe with the exception being the bowl you mash the bananas in. It’s that easy!

If you love banana bread, then you’ll love my other variations! This Coffee Cake Banana Bread is one of my most popular recipes, this Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe is a PB lover dream, this Cinnamon Roll Banana Bread is everything for fall, and this Carrot Cake Banana Bread with cream cheese frosting is to die for!

Banana Bread Ingredients:

Sometimes all you need for classic recipes are simple ingredients that are used the right way! This is my ultimate go-to banana bread recipe because it’s so easy to make and it’s so flavorful!

• Unsalted Butter: I use unsalted butter almost exclusively in all of my baking recipes because I prefer the ability to control the salt content. 
• Granulated Sugar
• Eggs
• Ripe Bananas: Using ripe bananas is important because ripe bananas are sweeter and have more flavor, which will make this bread more flavorful. 
• All Purpose Flour: A lot of people like to make banana bread with white whole wheat flour or some kind of combination, and I do not. Use all all-purpose flour for the best results.
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Vanilla Extract

How To Make This Ultra-Moist Banana Bread:

This is a quick overview on how to make homemade banana bread from scratch with the full instructions in a printable form down below in the recipe card. 

• Cream Butter and Sugar: To make this banana bread recipe, you begin by creaming the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy on medium-high speed. (You can use a standing mixer or an electric hand mixer–or, you can even do this by hand, which is what I did in college. It’s a very forgiving recipe!) 
• Eggs: Add in the eggs and mix until combined. 
• Dry Ingredients: Add in the flour, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until well combined. 
• Mashed Bananas: If you haven’t already, mash the bananas with a fork or a potato masher or a pastry cutter. (I like the bananas to be mostly mashed but with a little bit of banana pieces for texture. If you don’t want that texture, you can mash until everything is fully mashed.) Next, add the banana mixture to the batter and mix until combined.
• Pro Tip: You can use 2-3 large bananas or 4 medium bananas.
• Vanilla: Lastly, add vanilla extract to the banana bread batter and mix until combined.
• Bake: Grease two 8×4 bread pans (loaf pans) with baking spray or cover them with parchment paper. This is my favorite way to line a bread pan with parchment paper. Divide the batter evenly between the two bread pans and bake until golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the center of the bread. 
• Cool: Allow the bread to cool for about 10 minutes in the loaf pans, then gently remove them and allow them to continue cooling on a wire rack. 
• Serve: You can serve banana bread warm, cold, or at room temperature! Plus, you can add a schmear of butter on each slice if you prefer it. 

Storage Tips:

Store cooled banana bread either at room temperature or in the fridge in an airtight container or covered tightly in plastic wrap. 

Freezer: If you want to freeze banana bread, allow the baked bread to cool completely. Then, wrap each loaf tightly in plastic wrap and you can freeze for up to 3 months. I like to wrap in plastic wrap and put in an air-tight container, but you don’t have to if freezer space is at a premium.

Banana Bread Variations:

Mix Ins: If you want to make this banana nut bread, you can fold 1/2 cup of pecans or walnuts into the batter right before you pour it into the bread pans. Additionally, you can also add in chocolate chips. My tip is to use mini chocolate chips because I think the smaller chip actually works better in the structure of the baked bread. 

Spices: If you want to add any spices, you can’t go wrong with adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or a dash of nutmeg!

Toppings: While I love this banana bread recipe as is, you can definitely add a glaze or frosting on top. One of my most popular recipes in the fall is this Maple Glazed Banana Bread, which is essentially this classic banana bread recipe with a maple donut glaze on top. You can also top with a cream cheese frosting (like this one on this hummingbird bread recipe). 

Other Banana Recipes To Make Next:

• Banana Nut Muffins
• Banana Bread Scones
• Banana Sheet Cake
• Pumpkin Banana Pudding
• Pumpkin Banana Bread

Quick and Easy Baking Tips: 

• Room Temperature Butter: As with most baking recipes, use room temperature butter. It really makes a difference in the texture and structure of your baked goods because you need the butter to blend smoothly with the sugar to create a perfectly fluffy banana bread recipe. 
• Bananas: A perfectly moist banana bread needs very ripe bananas! Over ripe bananas, in fact. If they are brown and spotted, they will be super flavorful and moist. And, if you’re using medium sized bananas, you’ll want to use about 4. If you’re using large bananas, you’ll want to use 2-3. 
• Loaf Pan: This recipe will make one 9×5 loaf or two 8×4 loaves. If you use a 9×5 loaf pan, make sure to read the notes in the recipe below because it bakes a little differently than it does in the smaller pans. 
• Aluminum Foil: And, if you find that the bread is browning too quickly on top but is not completely baked in the center, tent a piece of non-stick tin foil over the top of each bread pan. This will keep the bread from getting too brown. 

4.97 from 143 votes

Best Banana Bread Recipe

Prep: 25 minutes mins

Cook: 40 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

This easy banana bread recipe is my mom's classic banana bread recipe. It's an incredibly moist banana bread that is made with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry! This is one banana bread recipe you won't want to miss.

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Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ▢ 1 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 eggs, large
• ▢ 2 cups all purpose flour
• ▢ 1 tsp baking soda
• ▢ 1/2 tsp salt
• ▢ 3-4 medium bananas (or 2 large bananas)
• ▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line two 8x4 bread pans with parchment paper (or grease well with butter or baking spray).*
• In a medium sized bowl, use a fork to mash the bananas until they are well mashed (I like them to be well mashed with small bits of banana pieces for texture). Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer or standing mixer to cream the butter and sugar together.
• Once combined, add in the eggs. Cream the mixture until well combined.
• Next, add in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined.
• Lastly, add in the mashed bananas and the vanilla extract. Mix until all the bananas have been incorporated into the batter.
• Divide the batter evenly between the two bread pans and bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until the top is puffed, brown, and a cake tester comes out clean when inserted in the center.**
• Allow the bread to cool for about 5-10 minutes in the pan, then remove the banana bread from the loaf pans and allow them to continue cooling on a wire rack.
• Serve warm, room temperature, or cold. I like to spread a little butter on mine!

Notes

*You can make the bread in one 9x5 loaf pan. If you do this, you will bake the bread at 350 for 35 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 325 and continue baking for 20-25 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
**If the outside of the banana bread is getting too dark, tent a piece of non-stick foil on top of each loaf pan. This will ensure the center bakes while protecting the top from browning too much.

The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Make sure to tag me on Instagram and leave a rating below and let me know how it turned out!

Here are some other favorite banana recipes to try next:

Banana Pudding

Coconut Banana Cream Pie