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:Â 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.
I had gone to take care of a friend after surgery, and helped by doing household chores. I made this banana bread, and it turned out wonderful. I made it exactly as the recipe stated. Everyone loved it. It’s delicious!
Great recipe! I
Made a couple changes. Instead of sugar I used 1/3 cup maple syrup & 1/3 cup honey. I used four eggs. For oil I used 1/2 cup unsalted butter & 1/2 cop olive oil. Also, 1 cup walnuts added. I made two loaves baking time 40 minutes.
Love this banana bread recipe. I made it with gluten free flour ( Bob’s Red Mills 1 to 1 Blend) and Truvia Baking sugar and it turned out amazing. My little family loves it. I also like to add chocolate chips to it! It’s super easy and super yummy.
This recipe is amazing! The directions are clear, concise, and easy to follow. The bread is delicious!! I will definitely recommend this recipe to my friends and family. Thank you for taking the time to post this recipe. I look forward to trying more of your recipes in the future 🙂
I made this for my daughter, she just had a baby,I also made lactation cookies, so I used brewer yeast, 1 table spoon, and 1/3 cup flaxseed, I like the idea of the brown sugar on top so did that too and added 1/2 cup chocolate chips, love this banana bread so easy, I also shut off oven and left bread in for 1/2 hours as someone else suggested, thanks for all the good ideas
I’ve only made banana bread once before and it was a failure..the bananas weren’t ripe enough, and it was hard as a rock. This recipe had a much better result, but I did make a few changes. I live in Florida so I used my own over ripe lady finger bananas (12) since I was doubling the recipe for two pans. I also used an extra 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla, and added a half cup of water, finishing off with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon sugar on the top of each loaf before baking. I baked at 350 for 30 minutes, then at 325 till the tooth pick came out clean about 35 min later. I brushed the tops with melted butter after they rested out of the oven a few minutes. They both look just like the pictures and are very delicious.
This is a great recipe, I just made this for the first time, moist but not heavy. I will use the suggestions above with adding mini chocolate chips & crumbling brown sugar on top the next time I make it.
Great base recipe. I’ve made it several times now. Sprinkling brown sugar on the top before baking makes it extra delicious. It is also good with chocolate chips. I’ve started turning off the oven at 45 minutes and letting it cool with the oven for a bit. It makes sure it is cooked through without drying out. If I use farm eggs (smaller) I go to 3 or 4 eggs.
Great recipe! Added chocolate chips and some walnuts (I accidentally ground them too fine so I added some apple sauce to make sure they didn’t dry it out.) then baked in a bunds pan. Very moist and delicious! Thanks!
Most times, simple is best. Fabulous!
Could u use margine instead that’s all I have and no vanilla
No, sorry, margarine will not work the same in this recipe.
I forgot the vanilla in mine and it still tastes great
I used used it and it turned out fine
Also I used almond extract
It is my go to recipe so I’ve varied it a lot
And always turns out fine
Good luck ?