My Easy Banana Bread Recipe

Making homemade banana bread is a treat. This Banana Bread Recipe is one I use all the time. It gives you a super moist loaf with great banana flavor. Plus, it’s easy to make, even if you don’t bake often. Let’s turn those overripe bananas into something special.

Why You’ll Love This Banana Bread

This moist banana bread is a winner for a few good reasons:

• Super Moist. It’s very tender. Very ripe bananas and butter help make it this way.
• Great Banana Flavor. Using very ripe bananas means it tastes like real, sweet bananas.
• Simple to Make. This easy banana bread recipe has clear steps. You don’t need fancy equipment. It’s a simple banana bread.
• Versatile. It’s great for breakfast on-the-go, a snack, or dessert.

Ingredients for the Best Banana Bread

Here are the banana bread ingredients you’ll need. Most are common kitchen items.

Core Ingredients

• Very Ripe Bananas. 3 medium to large. Look for lots of brown spots. Overripe bananas are sweeter and add more moisture.
• Unsalted Butter. ½ cup (8 Tablespoons or 1 stick), softened.
• Granulated Sugar. ¾ cup.
• Large Eggs. 2, lightly beaten. Eggs act as a binding agent.
• All-Purpose Flour. 1 ½ cups.
• Baking Soda. 1 teaspoon. This is the leavener; it helps the bread rise.
• Salt. ½ teaspoon. It enhances other flavors.
• Vanilla Extract. ½ teaspoon. Adds a nice warmth.

Optional Add-ins

• Walnuts. 1 cup, toasted and coarsely chopped for good texture.
• Raisins. ½ cup, for a tangy-sweet taste.

How to Ripen Bananas Quickly?

If your bananas aren’t ripe for this overripe banana recipe, here’s how to ripen bananas faster:

• Oven Method. Bake unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet at 250°F (120°C) for 15-20 minutes, until skins are black. Cool before mashing.
• Paper Bag Method. Put bananas in a paper bag. Fold to close. Bananas emit ethylene, which ripens them. An apple in the bag will speed up the process.

Equipment You’ll Need

You don’t need many tools for this easy banana bread recipe.

• Loaf Pan. A 9×5 inch metal loaf pan is good. An 8×4 inch pan also works; the loaf will be taller.
• Mixing Bowls. One large, one medium.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons.
• Fork. For mashing bananas; it’s the easiest way to mash.
• Whisk or Spatula. For mixing. You can use an electric mixer or stand mixer for the butter and sugar, but it’s not a must for this simple banana bread.
• Wire Cooling Rack. For cooling the bread.

How to Make Banana Bread: Step-by-Step

Let’s learn how to make banana bread. Follow these steps for this easy banana bread recipe.

1. Prep Work

1. Preheat Oven. Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Put a rack in the middle.
2. Prepare Pan. Grease your loaf pan with butter or spray. Then, add a little flour, tilt the pan to coat all sides, and tap out any extra.
3. Toast Nuts (Optional). If using walnuts, toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir often. Let them cool, then chop. This adds great flavor.

2. Mixing the Batter

1. Cream Butter & Sugar. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar. Mix until light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer or mix well by hand.
2. Add Wet Ingredients. Mash the very ripe bananas with a fork until like chunky applesauce. Add mashed bananas and beaten eggs to the butter mixture. Mix until just blended.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients. In the medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Combine Wet & Dry. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low or by hand until just combined. Very important: do not overmix! A few flour streaks are okay.
5. Stir in Flavor & Add-ins. Stir in the vanilla extract. If using, gently fold in chopped walnuts and raisins.

3. Baking the Bread

1. Pour & Bake. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan. Spread it evenly. Bake for 55-65 minutes. Baking time can vary. Start checking around 50 minutes.
2. Tent if Needed. If the top browns too fast, loosely tent the loaf with foil.
3. Test for Doneness. Insert a toothpick or wooden skewer into the center. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If there’s wet batter, it needs more time.

4. Cooling the Bread

Let the banana bread rest in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then, remove from the pan. Let it cool completely on the wire rack before slicing. Use a bread knife for neat, non-crumbly slices.

Pro Tips for Perfect Banana Bread

These tips for banana bread will help you get great results.

• Use Very Ripe Bananas. For the best banana bread, use overripe bananas (brown-spotted, squishy). They are sweeter and moister.
• Measure Flour Right. Don’t scoop flour from the bag. Spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off. Too much flour makes dry bread.
• Don’t Overmix. Mix wet and dry ingredients until just combined. Overmixing makes tough bread instead of moist banana bread.
• Room Temperature Ingredients. Room temperature butter and eggs mix better.
• Toast Nuts. If using nuts, toasting them makes them taste much better.

Delicious Banana Bread Variations

This banana bread recipe with walnuts and raisins is great, but try these banana bread variations too:

• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Add ¾ to 1 cup chocolate chips. This makes a great Banana Chocolate Chip Bread.
• Nut-Free Banana Bread. Just leave out the walnuts for a nut-free loaf. It will still be softest and scrumptious.
• Different Nuts. Try pecans instead of walnuts.
• Spiced Banana Bread. Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
• Brown Sugar Banana Bread. Use packed light or dark brown sugar instead of granulated sugar for a deeper flavor.
• Healthier Banana Bread Swaps:
  • Less Sugar. If bananas are very sweet, you can reduce sugar to ½ cup.
  • Honey. Replace sugar with honey for honey banana bread.
  • Whole Wheat Flour. Use up to half whole wheat flour.
  • Ground Flaxseed. Add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed.

Storing and Freezing Your Banana Bread

Here’s how to store banana bread and how long does banana bread last. And yes, you can freeze banana bread.

1. Storing at Room Temperature.

• Cool bread completely.
• Wrap well in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or put in an airtight container. A paper towel under and over the loaf in the container can help.
• Lasts 3-4 days.

2. Storing in the Refrigerator.

Same storage. Lasts 5-7 days.

3. Freezing Banana Bread.

• Cool completely.
• Wrap well in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or put in a freezer-safe bag. Remove excess air.
• Freeze whole or as slices of banana nut bread.
• Lasts 2-4 months.
• Thawing: Thaw wrapped at room temperature.

More Ideas You May Like:

• Cheesy Garlic Bread
• Homemade Naan Bread
• Homemade Pita Bread
• Beat Garlic Bread Recipe
• Amish Cinnamon Bread

FAQs

Conclusion

So, what do you think? Are you ready to bake what I hope will become your new favorite easy and moist Banana Bread Recipe?

If you decide to try it, I would be so happy to hear how it turns out for you. Please feel free to leave a comment and a rating below!