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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Best banana bread recipe ever
This recipe is rated so well because it’s fantastic! I didn’t read any comments or make any alterations to the recipe. It’s so good!!
I couldn’t even tell you how many times I’ve made this recipe. My only banana bread recipe I’ve used for the past 6+ years. Absolutely elite.
Has anyone added chocolate chips? If so, how much?
I have added milk chocolate, white chocolate, peanut butter chips…I add a half bag to a double recipe
We loved it!
I’m not sure if anyone else asked this but can I substitute white flour for whole wheat or will it make the bread too dry?
I dont know about whole wheat but have used GF flour & dairy free butter. I do have to add about 1/4 cup extra almond or coconut milk to keep it from being too dry.
Thank you! This is a great recipe. I used apple bananas and added 1/2 c sour cream into the batter for moistness.
Not sure what I did wrong but the middle was still raw and I’m unsure how to get it baked all the way. But the parts that aren’t raw are really good.
I probably baked mine for over an hr in the end. I lost track really. Cook time can vary for a number of reasons but usually come down to the type of pan you’re baking in and you independent oven temp. (They’re not all accurate). I checked the middle by sticking a toothpick in it. If the middle is still raw, the toothpick will have a lot on it. If it’s cooked, it’ll come out clean with just a little butter in it from the batter. Because of oven variations, I always start checking my baked goods at the front end of the bake time. For this, I started the toothpick test about 1/3 from the end, once that came out clean, I check the middle. If it’s not coming out clean, I’ll quickly check it every 5 mins or so. If I feel like it has a longer way to go, I’ll wait 10mins before checking it again since you lose heat every time you open the oven.
Banana Bread was delicious! I did substitute unsweetened applesauce for the butter as I have high cholesterol. Also used half cup of granulated sugar sugar + half cup of brown sugar sugar (not packed). Worked like a charm.
This the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever made. I have however made one small change. I use 1/2 cup white sugar and
1/2 cup light brown sugar. It makes the center more gooey and moist. I make a lot of banana bread and this is extremely popular with family and friends.