Description
Discover the Best Banana Bread recipe that is moist, flavorful, and easy to bake. This classic treat has a perfectly tender crumb and rich banana flavor enhanced with warm spices and vanilla. Suitable for all skill levels, it’s ideal for breakfast, snacks, or dessert and is easily customizable with nuts, chocolate chips, or fruit.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3–4 ripe bananas (heavily speckled or mostly brown)
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend for gluten-free version)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg (or flaxseed meal equivalent for vegan alternative)
- ½ cup softened butter or oil (coconut oil for vegan version)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Bananas and Ingredients: Mash the ripe bananas in a bowl until smooth but still a bit chunky to provide natural sweetness and moisture, forming the base of the bread’s signature flavor and texture.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine softened butter or oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and egg. Beat until creamy and well incorporated, then add vanilla extract for added depth of flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the flour (all-purpose or gluten-free blend), baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in another bowl to ensure even distribution of leavening agents and spices.
- Bring Wet and Dry Together: Gently fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients along with the mashed bananas. Mix just until combined to avoid overworking the batter, which can lead to a dense loaf.
- Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 60-70 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
Notes
- Use Overripe Bananas: The browner the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be.
- Do Not Overmix: Stir until ingredients are just combined to avoid tough texture.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure eggs and butter are at room temperature for better mixing and even baking.
- Add a Touch of Sour Cream or Yogurt: Incorporate ¼ cup for extra moisture and tenderness.
- Cool Before Slicing: Let the bread cool completely to set the crumb and avoid crumbling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60-70 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10th of loaf)
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
Keywords: banana bread, moist banana bread, easy banana bread, gluten free banana bread, vegan banana bread, homemade banana bread