This is the best Banana Bread recipe you’ll find! It’s moist, easy to make, and you can whip it up in one bowl! Perfect with your morning cup of coffee or as a mid-day snack!
If you like a classic Banana Bread, you will love this recipe! It is perfectly soft, moist, and has so much flavor!
Using just a few basic ingredients (that you probably already have at home), you can make a delicious treat for your whole family!
I love to have a slice (or two) of this hearty banana bread with my morning coffee. It’s also great as a mid-day snack, dessert, or even a picnic treat.
Like my One Bowl Brownies, you can make this recipe quick and easy, without dirtying lots of dishes. Just mix everything together, put it in the oven, and you can enjoy this tasty classic bread in an hour.
Why this recipe works
This is a great basic recipe for a classic banana bread.
It is all about the texture! Thanks to ripe and mashed bananas and melted butter, you will have a perfect moist bread with delicious buttery flavor. A good balance of wet and dry ingredients makes it soft and hearty.
What Bananas to choose
If you have some overly ripe bananas at home that no one wants to eat, they will be perfect for this recipe!
You want them to have deep yellow skin with lots of brown spots. The main reason is when bananas get brown and ripen, the sugars inside starts to break down, making them sweeter and releasing delicious aroma. That will help us to build the most flavor!
So don’t be afraid to use soft and dark brown bananas, they will make the best bread!
How to make it
I love this recipe because it’s super easy to make in one bowl in just a few minutes.
But before we start, let’s preheat the oven to 350°F, grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan, and set it aside.
In a large mixing bowl mash 3 large (or 4 small) overripe bananas. You can do it with a fork or a potato masher (Photos 1-2).
Then add melted butter and whisk until combined (Photos 3-4).
Add sugar, eggs and vanilla extract and whisk again (Photos 5-8).
Add dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt). Using a spatula, fold it in (Photos 9-12).
Pour the batter in a pre-greased loaf pan.
Bake at 350°F for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Take it out of the oven and let sit on the counter for about 5-10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack and let it cool completely.
Tips for best results
Bananas. For the best results, use overripe bananas. They will provide more sweetness and will make the bread moist.
Don’t overmix! Like in any other baking recipe, it’s important not to overmix the batter. Otherwise it will be tough and rubbery.
Options and Substitutions
Sugar. If you don’t want to use granulated sugar, you can easily substitute it with raw or coconut sugar. But don’t use maple syrup as it will have too much liquid and will make the bread damp and heavy.
Flavors. This recipe is a perfect base for a classic Banana Bread. You can easily add more flavor to it by adding:
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Chocolate chips
- Dried fruits and berries (like cranberries or blueberries)
- Shredded and squeezed zucchini
Frequently Asked Questions
How to store? You can put it in a zip-lock bag or an air tight container. It will stay fresh on a counter for a couple of days and in the fridge for a week.
Can I freeze it? Yes! The best way to freeze it is to slice it first, put in a zip-lock bag, and put it in the freezer. This way, when you want a slice or two, you can just take it out and enjoy. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2-3 moths.
How to keep it moist? When you use ripe mashed bananas and melted butter, they provide enough moisture to keep the bread perfectly soft and moist. After you slice it, make sure to put in an air-tight container or a bag to keep from drying out.
Can I make this Banana Bread into muffins? Yes, but I already have a great recipe for Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins that you will love!
Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!
One Bowl Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 large bananas (or 4 small bananas)
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan, and set it aside.
- In a large mixing bowl mash 3 large (or 4 small) overripe bananas. You can do it with a fork or a potato masher.
- Then add ½ cup melted butter and whisk until combined.
- Add ⅔ cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract and whisk again.
- Add dry ingredients (2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp salt). Using a spatula, fold it in.
- Pour the batter in a pre-greased 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Bake at 350°F for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Take it out of the oven and let sit on the counter for about 5-10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack and let it cool completely.
Video
Notes
- Chopped walnuts or pecans
- Chocolate chips
- Dried fruits and berries (like cranberries or blueberries)
- Shredded and squeezed zucchini
I’ve baked this numerous times. My mother loves it. She is in her 90s and has list her appetite on occasion, but she nibbles on this until she back to normal eating habits. It has sustained her in hospital stays as well. The good thing is we all like it and serve it to our guests. It makes a great gift too.
use this recipe exclusively. love it.
c
if you are short one banana can you substitute applesauce?
Prettiest n Yummiest thing I’ve ever baked!!
With everything being so damn expensive what could be cheaper than bananas??!! This w only the addition of walnuts I followed every step! Easy fast easy to clean n best best all it was abso delish!!! Wishing I had whipped cream cheese for it but butter was yummmmmmers! Thank you for this big hit w the whole family! Made me look like if slaved all day! Perfection!
Love it, specially when I am trying to cut down sugars from my diet.
This was the best easy tasting banana bread Ive ever tasted. This will be my families dessert!
Wow this is the best banana bread I’ve ever made! I used brown sugar instead and a mix of oil and butter. Thank you for this recipe!
Just mixed this together and it’s in the oven as I type this up. Such an easy recipe to follow. Can’t wait to try a piece.
Than you, Gil! Hope you enjoy it 😉
I was looking for an easy banana loaf recipe and when I saw your name was also Veronika I knew this would be an easy website to remember. I made this for the first time last weekend and we devoured it in two days. Sooo good ! I can’t eat gluten so substituted with 1-1 baking flour and it came out perfect. I added chocolate chips and walnuts for some extra crunch too! New go to recipe !
Thank you so much, Veronica! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe! I’m glad this recipe worked with gluten-free flour 😉
This is my go-to recipe now. I’ve made this multiple times, always a hit! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Laura! So glad you enjoy the recipe 😉
i have been making your recipe for a very long time and its a huge hit with everyone…im wondering if oil could but substituted for the butter…again thank you for an amazing recipe
Hi Betty-Anne! I’m so happy you love this recipe! Unfortunately, I never tested it with oil, so I cannot say if it will work or not…
Ive made it with oil just as good
Veronica, this is the BEST banana bread recipe ever! Thank you for posting it
Thank you so much, Dee! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😉
The best Banana bread ever. Perfect as is. My only add in was walnuts. Big family hit. It disappears overnight! Thank you.
Thank you so much, Pauline! So happy you and your family enjoyed the recipe! Walnuts and chocolate chips are always a great addition for banana bread 😉
Very easy to make and delicious.
Thank you, Mickey! Glad you liked it 😉
I’ve just made this banana bread recipe and yay it’s the only banana bread recipe that doesn’t flop.
I added some spoonfuls of Nutella in the centre
Hi Rasheeqa! I’m so happy you loved the recipe! Also, it’s a great idea to add some Nutella to it 😉
HI VERONIKA!
YOUR ONE BOWL BANANA BREAD SOUNDS YUMMY! TWO QUESTIONS THOUGH. . .YOU SAY TO GREASE A 9 X 5″ PAN.
DO YOU ALSO FLOUR THE PAN AFTER GREASING OR NOT?
I DIDN’T SEE THAT YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR RECIPE.
THANKS MUCH!
Hi! I only use a good amount of butter to grease the pan, it never failed me before 😉 After the bread is baked, let it sit on the counter in the pan for 5 minutes and then flip the pan, so the bread will easily get released from the pan. Hope that helps 😉
Made this before it was so yummy!! I want to make it again but only have 2 bananas is that okay?
Hi Sheila! 2 bananas will work just fine 😉
I can tell you that with a different one-bowl banana bread recipe I tried, I used 3 large bananas which only yielded 1 1/4 cups when mashed. The recipe called for 3 large bananas which was supposed to amount to 2 cups mashed. So using only 2 bananas could be risky (?)
This is such an easy recipe, being all in one bowl. It’s quick to make and hardly any cleanup. I made the recipe exactly how it’s written except I didn’t measure the cinnamon because well… cinnamon. 🙂 I set the timer on the oven for 56 minutes instead of an hour but I should have checked it a little bit sooner. It got a little darker than I would have liked. However it is still quite moist and it’s delicious. I cut a thick slice off the end, warmed it in the microwave and put a little butter on it. Oh my goodness!!! This is my forever recipe for banana bread now. Can’t wait to try it with some add-ins. Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Thank you so much, Patti! I’m so happy you enjoyed this banana bread 😉
Hi from Mauritius, I made your banana bread as a gift for some friends this morning. It was amazing! Moist, soft, tasty, not too sweet, this will be a staple at my home now. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you so much Jenifer! So happy you enjoyed it 😉
I tried it! It came out surprisingly good! i mean it’s the best recipe ever and I’m gonna keep it! i didn’t change a thing in the recipe that’s why I’m telling you it’s so yummy!
Thank you so much, Jill! So happy you liked it 😉
This recipe turned out so yummy, thank you! I added walnuts but kept everything else the same. My only complaint is that my loaf didn’t rise to be as fluffy as yours. Any idea why this could be?
Also, I think my oven temperature settings are off, because I only baked the loaf for 50 minutes and the crust was still a little overdone.
Hi Rachel, I’m glad you liked the bread 😉 The rising issues could be caused by different factors, like using expired baking soda/ powder, opening the oven door too often, overmixing the batter.
made this recipe a few times into wee muffins with wee banana slices on top—absolutely perfect every time!
Thank you so much, Sarah! I also love making muffins out of this banana bread 😉
Great recipe. Will make again. I added apple (shredded) chocolate chip cookies + almonds.
Thank you so much, Ivana! I love the flavors you added to the recipe 😉
I think that it’s an amazing recipe! Easy to understand and everything.
Thank you, Eden! Hope you enjoyed it 😉
To make it even easier, I make this in my blender! The recipe is so yummy and quick! I’ve made it several times! Thanks!!
This is a great idea to use blender! I’m sure it make everything to much easier 😉
This recipe is AMAZING!! It is so easy, yet it tastes as though you spent all day in the kitchen, baking this to perfection. I couldn’t believe the ease of making this. Clean up was a snap. I have found my new “go to” recipe. Thabnk you so much.
Thank you so much, Brenda! So glad you liked the recipe 😉
Thank you for this recipe. Some banana bread recipes call for THREE bowls. Nope! This worked just as well for me and it’ll now be my “go to” recipe. Might try blueberries as one person posted. Thanks again!
Thank you, Joanne! I’m so happy you liked it 😉 Blueberries will be a great addition in this recipe!
Why does my banana bread split on top? How to avoid this? TIA
Hi Sujatha! It is absolutely ok for a banana bread to split in the middle. The reason it happens is the top cooks faster, creating a crust. When the middle part starts to bake through, it expands and cracks the top.
Super easy! Super delicious! I added walnuts and chocolate chips to this. It’s a big win in my family— thank you!
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you and your family loved the recipe 😉
I made this for my son’s family, they love it, I made 3 small pans, and I add blueberries to 1 pan, they went crazy over the blueberry one, they want me to make more. I told they when we get over ripe bananas I will, they got bananas waiting to over ripe so l can….
Yaay! Thank you, Penny! This is a great idea to add blueberries to the banana bread, going to try it next time 😉
Thank you for sharing this recipe for delicious banana bread. I made it with my 8 year-old granddaughter. We added chocolate chips because that’s how we like our banana bread. We’ll definitely be making it again!
Thank you so much, Joann! I also love adding chocolate chips to the banana bread!
Made two loafs of banana bread with this recipe with my daughter and niece and nephew. Was very easy, and was very tasty. I’m going to be taking some for my work lunches. <3
loaves**
Thank you so much, Vanessa! So glad you liked the recipe!
Great recipe.. it is now my go to banana bread recipe. Can you use banana extract for this recipe? I don’t want to try it and ruin a super recipe.
Thank you, Cheryl! I’m so happy you liked this recipe! For me, I don’t really like to use artificial flavors (except vanilla and almond), as they never taste as good as real ingredients.
Remove from pan after 10 minutes or wait till it is cool then remove from pan?
Do you have to use baking soda?
Hi Rosa! Yes, you have to use baking soda in this recipe. Because the batter is dense, we need a leavening to make sure the bread will rise and won’t be flat.
I LOVE this recipe. It is so easy and the banana bread is incredibly moist! My toddler always wants bananas at the store, then never eats them,
so I’ve made it four times already! My fifth time is trying them as muffins, right now! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much, Michelle! It makes me so happy to read such comments! So happy you and your toddler loves this recipe!
I made this .I hope it turns out well. Thanks
Thank you so much, Sabrina!
Easy and delicious. I added walnuts but next time will try it with the added nutmeg and apples. That sounds amazing.
Thank you, Shari! I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
Everytime I use baking soda without adding sour cream, my cake tastes bitter I end trashing it. And now thi recipe looks amazing to try but I’m worried of the outcome.
I tried the recipe today and loved it!! I added 1/2 tsp of Nutmeg and it turned out great. Thank you for this. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes.
Thank you so much, Audrey! Nutmeg adds a beautiful touch to the baking goods!
My grown children both love this recipe. I add 1 chopped apple and either walnuts or pecans (about 1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts) to mine and it makes it so moist. I make mine as muffins and they don’t need slicing, just eating. My husband and I also live them.
Thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear that you and your family loved this recipe!
This is now my go to banana bread. The wonderful smell that filled the house while baking made it very difficult for us wait on it to cool. Thank you for sharing such an easy recipe.
Thank you so my, Pat! I’m so happy you liked it 😉
So so so goooood and so easy thanks for sharing,question 1 serving is 270 how many grams is 1 serving thanks so much
Hi Nina! Good question. Unfortunately, I don’t measure slices in grams, so I cannot tell you the exact weight. But 1 banana bread is usually enough for 10 slices.
This looks so delicious and easy! Can’t wait to try. If I wanted to add nuts, how much would you recommend? Also, if I didn’t get to plan and had to buy bananas that weren’t overripe, would the technique of cooking the bananas in the oven to ripen work for this recipe?
Thanks!
Hi Lauren! I know that many people like to add walnuts to this recipe. The amount depends on your taste. I usually put between 2/3-1 cup of chopped walnuts. It’s ok if bananas are not overripe, just follow the instructions. Let me know if you make it 😉
This is very good and came our perfect. My family loved it. Thanks for the detailed recipe
Thank you, Sophie! So happy you and your family liked it!
Did someone say easy banana bread? Please count me in! I love banana bread so so much <3
This banana bread is a great breakfast or afternoon snack. I love that it only takes a few ingredients and one bowl to make it.
My daughters favourite cake! Will be adding chocolate chips for her next time!
The banana bread to wake up to! I can already imagine the smell coming from the kitchen that makes you want to get up and rock’n’roll to it. Delicious recipe to keep handy!
This will be my first time baking banana bread, your wonderful, thorough recipe is making it easy for me. Thank you for all your tips and directions.
I love the texture of this banana bread! I’ve always had banana bread with adds on like walnuts and chocolate chips, but now I want to try a simple delicious pure banana bread!
Who wouldn’t love this classic Banana bread?! Your recipe looks really mouthwatering and it’s making me drool. I can’t wait to try making this at home.
I love the tip to use coconut sugar. I always eat too much banana bread so then I feel guilty. But with substituting out the sugar I can eat it all without the guilt but still have the same great tasting bread!
Banana bread is the classic that NEVER goes out of style. Perfect for breakfast, snack and dessert. Always welcomed in my house.
Everybody needs a terrific, go-to banana bread recipe! I really appreciated all your great tips and info, especially the tip not to over-mix and the ideas for stir-ins like chocolate chips and even zucchini. Lots of ways to start with this basic recipe and riff from there. YUM! Thanks for all the great info to get it exactly right.