Best Banana Bread Recipe is so easy to make and super soft and moist! The very best way to use up overripe bananas this bread is tender and packed full of flavor!
Since I have already shared with you my family’s favorite Chocolate Chip Banana Bread it was time to give you my very best classic recipe as well! If you love all things banana, then make up these Banana Nut Muffins too, one bowl, so easy, so GOOD!
What Is The Best Banana Bread Recipe?
To make the very best banana bread that comes out super moist, it is important to start out with those ugly, overripe bananas! In the picture below you can see the bananas that I used for this recipe post. These bananas are just ripe enough to work with. They need to be a dark yellow with lots of browning. You can use bananas that are even darker than this! The riper the bananas, the more moist your bread will be and the more banana flavor it will have!
How Do You Keep Banana Bread Moist?
The best way to keep banana bread moist for days is to wrap it tightly! Once your bread is baked and cooled, I recommend wrapping tightly in plastic wrap. Then, take a second step and store it in a large zip top freezer bag or a plastic container with a tight fitting lid. Stored this way on the counter, your bread will last up to 3 days. If you’d like, you can store it wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
How to Make Banana Bread:
This recipe makes one loaf of banana bread. The first step is to preheat your oven and prepare a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray or grease with butter.
- Next, take a large bowl as seen below and whisk together your dry ingredients. This will include the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl melt your butter in the microwave, then add in the bananas and mash until mostly smooth.
- Add your eggs and vanilla to your mashed banana mixer and use your fork to combine everything really well, until you no longer see any streaks of eggs.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together with a spatula just until combined. Don’t overmix.
- Now, you are ready to pour your batter into your prepared pan and bake!
**NOTE: You can also mash your bananas with the melted butter in your stand mixer if preferred.
Can you Freeze Banana Bread?
Yes! If you’d like to freeze this then allow it to cool completely at room temperature on a plate or wire rack once it comes out of the oven. Once cool, wrap the bread in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil. Freeze the bread for up to 2 months for best results.
To thaw the bread, remove from the freezer and allow it to come to room temperature, covered on the counter. This will take about 24 hours.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Best Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Stick (1/2 Cup) Butter
- 3 Large Ripe Bananas
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray or grease with butter and set aside.
- Add the stick of butter to a large bowl and microwave for 1 minute, or until melted.
- Add the bananas to the same bowl and mash with a fork.
- Add the vanilla extract and egg to the bowl and use the same fork to mash and stir until no yellow streaks of egg remain.
- In a second large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together with a spatula just until combined.
- Pour the batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.
This is the first time i have managed to make perfect banana bread. PERFECT. simple and just Perfect!!
Wow, awesome! I made this for my family’s Sunday night dessert, and it’s already gone. Normally I add and subtract from recipes I find online, but this I made exactly as written. The loaf pan I used was as suggested in the recipe, and although I do have a rather hot oven .. no pun intended .. it took an hour and five minutes before it was completely baked. I know there are numerous ways to change or add to this recipe, but it is truly perfect just as it is. You will not be disappointed.
Just what I needed!!! Thx
How many slices do you cut a loaf into in order to match the nutrition facts on the recipe?
It is in the oven now and smells amazing, thank you!!
About 10-12 slices, it just depends on how thick you cut them 🙂
Amazing recipe. I’ve made it a handful of times now and it’s SO GOOD and super easy. It’s always the first thing eaten when I bring it to a potluck LOL.
Two adjustments I make is I use all brown sugar instead of white (I simply prefer the taste and texture of brown!) and I melt the sugar into the butter/banana mixture instead of adding it to the dry ingredients (similar to what a cookie recipe calls for). Amazing recipe, I highly recommend!
I did two things different, I doubled the bananas and I added walnuts to make it banana nut bread. Also I covered the loaf with tin foil after 45 minutes and baked for an additional 10 minutes. Came out perfect. Also if you use the aluminum loaf pans, I recommend splitting the batter into 2 separate pans to avoid overflow.
The best banana bread recipe !!!
The best I’ve ever made and I’m 75 years old!
Hi Nicole,
Your fabulous recipe is identical to one given me by a friend who is a caterer, but your process is different. Using melted butter as the base for the wet ingredients was a game-changer cuz we’re overseas and don’t have a mixer! This batter makes a dozen good-sized muffins. I did trade white sugar for brown, added 1/3 c. apple sauce, and covered each muffin with a standard streusel topping (1/2 c. brown sugar, 1/2 c. flour, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 c. butter), Twenty-five minutes later they emerged perfectly done and exuded a buttery banana cinnamon aroma that brought my husband to his feet. Thank you for sharing your amazing recipes dear heart!
Gerda, what does the added applesauce do? I’m going to try the recipe with your substitutions!
Awesome
The best recipe my family loves it.