Best Ever Banana Bread Recipe

Easy “tried-and-true’ homemade Banana Bread recipe that is the best way to use up over-ripe bananas. Made with brown sugar for a moist, dark loaf perfect to go with morning coffee or serve as dessert!

There is nothing that says “I love you” more than baking fresh bread. The amazing aroma of baking banana bread wafting thru the house will have them running to the kitchen to wait for a slice warm from the oven. The look on their faces when they bite in is definitely worth any effort. No need to tell them this recipe is super easy to make!

Making banana bread is my favorite way to use up ripe bananas left in the fruit bowl. When I don’t have enough banana to make bread, I’ll throw the extra bananas into the freezer to save for later. Here’s how:

Freezing Ripe Bananas

1. Peel bananas and place each into a small freezer bag or container. Label and freeze up to 3 months. Bananas will darken in the freezer.
2. Thaw in the refrigerator before using.

A medium banana = approximately 1/2 cup.

Ingredients Needed For Easy Recipe Banana Quick Bread

These simple ingredients are all you need to make this best Banana Bread recipe. You probably have most of them in your pantry already!

• Unsalted Butter – bring the butter to room temperature before beating with the sugar. Cold butter doesn’t mix well.
• Brown Sugar – either light or dark brown sugar are both fine for this recipe. For a lighter loaf, use half brown sugar and half white sugar in the recipe.
• Large Eggs – room temperature eggs will blend easier than cold eggs.
• Vanilla Extract – adds flavor and delicious aroma.
• Cinnamon – brings out and complements the banana flavor.
• Sour Cream – we use full fat sour cream to add moist flavor to this bread. Plain Greek yogurt is a healthy substitute.
• All-Purpose Flour – we used classic AP flour for this recipe.
• Baking Soda – leavening agent for the bread.
• Salt – brings out the flavor of the ingredients.
• Bananas – over-ripe with dark brown or black spots.

Toppings for Banana Bread

We love to make our banana bread extra special by adding decorative toppings. It can be as simple as slicing a banana in half lengthwise and placing it on top of the batter (our favorite). Other favorites ae sprinkling the batter with sunflower seeds, pepitas or candied pecans.

How To Make Moist Banana Bread

The best moist banana bread starts with super ripe bananas with lots of brown or black spots. These will add concentrated banana flavor and sweetness to the batter.

Note: There should still be some yellow peel remaining – all black bananas will be starting to ooze liquid and should be discarded.

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl mash peeled bananas with a fork. Set aside.
3. In the large bowl of the stand mixer (fitted with paddle attachment) combine the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Add in vanilla, cinnamon, sour cream and bananas. Beat on low speed to combine.
5. In a medium bowl whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda and salt). With the mixer off, add flour mixture to the banana mixture. Beat on low speed to moisten (and keep flour from flying everywhere), then medium speed to blend with the wet ingredients.
6. With a spatula or wooden spoon , fold in any add-ins like nuts, chocolate chips and dried fruit.
7. Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the top of the loaf.
8. Bake in prepared oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. When a cake tester or knife inserted in center of the loaf comes out clean the bread is done.
9. Cool on a wire rack until pan cool enough to handle. Run sharp knife around bread to help release from the pan. Invert onto a serving plate to slice.

Chef Tips for Easy Banana Bread

• Mash your bananas well with a fork. It’s okay if there’s a few chunks and lumps.
• For best results, be sure the butter is at room temperature. Hard butter won’t mix with the sugar and will leave butter lumps in your batter.
• The batter should be thick once all of the ingredients are mixed. You may think it needs more liquid, but this banana bread batter is fine as it is.
• Don’t over mix the batter!
• Use a light colored loaf pan. Dark loaf pans may darken the bottom of your bread loaf.
• If desired, line your loaf pan with parchment paper. Leave a 3 -inch overhang to make it easy to lift the banana bread out of the pan.
• Place your loaf onto a cooling rack to let cool. Cool completely or refrigerate for the easiest slicing.

*If using a hand mixer follow recipe as written, combining all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mixing and blending times may be longer for an electric mixer vs. using a stand mixer.

Banana Bread Flour Options

We love to mix and match the flours used in our favorite banana bread recipe . This recipe is super versatile and using a healthier flour option is easy.

• All Purpose Flour
• Whole Wheat Flour
• Whole wheat pastry flour
• Buckwheat Flour
• Spelt Flour
• Gluten Free Measure for Measure Flour
• Whole Grain Flour Blend
• Gluten Free Flour Blend

Banana Bread Variations

This is the perfect base recipe for all variety of banana breads. Feel free to add different flavors to make it your own.

We love to add fresh orange to banana bread. It adds so much flavor that brings out the banana flavor.

Throw in a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter and make it banana nut bread. Chocolate chips or dried fruit like apricot or blueberry add extra sweetness and distinctive and totally delicious flavor?.

Try drizzling in a teaspoon or two of maple syrup for even more flavor or a tablespoon of flax seeds for more fiber…yum!

Craving Banana Muffins instead? Check out our popular recipe for Banana Nut Muffins.

How To Store Banana Bread

Store banana bread tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or sealed in an airtight container for up to 3 days on your kitchen counter or 7 days in the refrigerator.

Can You Freeze Banana Bread? 

Sure can! Freeze the whole loaf wrapped in foil, sealed in a plastic freezer bag or in a large airtight container. You can also slice it and freeze in single-sized portions. Thaw the whole loaf in the refrigerator before slicing or reheat a single slice in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds when a banana bread craving hits!

More Banana Bread Recipes

Cranberry Cinnamon Banana Bread

Blueberry Pecan Banana Bread

Banana Foster Bread with Rum Sauce

Banana Bread Cream Cheese Bundt Cake