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
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!