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.
Easy and soooo good
I made muffins out of this recipe & they were absolutely delicious & they came out perfect! I will use this recipe whenever I make banana muffins! (: Thanks!
This was the best banana nut bread recipe I’ve found! I added pecans to it (I like them better than walnuts). I also sprinkle a little bit of sugar on top to give the outer crust a little extra oomph. Will be saving this one.
I don’t know if it was this awesome recipe or my brand new convection oven, but these banana muffins were perfection! (I did put skor bits on top before baking because it’s a delicious add that I’ve done for years) BUT seriously this was a treat that the whole family LOVED my new favorite recipe!
Such a classic! I added chopped walnuts to the batter and this banana bread came out perfect! Mine did need a little extra cooking time. I baked it for 60 minutes and even then it could have used an extra 5. But it I’m not one to complain about a little underbaked goodness. Delicious recipe!
I’m a salty baker of many years and I made this recipe into muffins and are they sooooo good. I make them every week. I freeze what I ant use and take 2 out in the morning. The best and easiest desert I have ever made. Thank you so much
Theresa
This is the best banana bread recipe I’ve tried. Over the two dozen times I’ve made it …it always comes out exactly the same. Moist & tasty & the family loves it. We add up to a cup of blueberries which makes it even more flavorful. If you add frozen we add just a half a cup.
It always amazes me how many recipes for banana bread leave out out the vanilla. I think it’s a must! I added a 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt (it’s dry here in Colorado!) and an extra banana because mine were on the small side. I also sprinkled walnuts on top. It turned out unbelievably moist and with beautiful crumb. Thank you!!
Great! I used 4 small bananas and added 1/2 cup of raisins. Delicious.
This is the best banana bread recipe I have ever had. I made this with my 4-year-old. He added a little tropical trail mix to the batter. It was DELICIOUS. The bread itself was fantastic. I always add half melted, half softened butter so there are pockets of warm butter throughout. Thank you !