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    Home » Recipes » Breads

    The BEST Banana Bread Recipe with a Secret Ingredient

    By: Jessica · Posted: Aug 29, 2021 · Updated: Mar 26, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings

    It’s the secret ingredient in this simple banana bread recipe that makes it so moist and so delicious. Plus, it’s easy, quick, and an addictive recipe you’ll make over and over. 

    Bread recipes are one of our favorite recipes to bake but this banana bread is the BEST and is now a favorite in so many kitchens!

    Easy Banana Bread

    Photos Updated: November 2018!

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love this Banana Bread
    • How to Make Banana Bread
    • How to Make this EASY Banana Bread
    • Buttermilk
    • Buttermilk Substitute
    • Banana Bread Batter
    • How Long to Bake Banana Bread in Oven…
    • How long does banana bread last?
    • How to Freeze Banana Bread
    • More bread recipes like this one that you’ll love:
    • Easy Banana Bread Recipe
    Banana Bread Testimonial Review - Best
    A Fantabulosity reader thinks this is the best banana bread recipe too! Thank you for sharing Jeanne!

    Why You’ll Love this Banana Bread

    • It’s the secret ingredient, buttermilk (or substitute with a combination of lemon juice and milk), that creates a moist, flavorful banana bread.
    • It’s classic and flexible. You can add your favorite additions if you want something other than regular banana bread. For instance, chocolate chips, nuts, and blueberries are DELICIOUS in this recipe!
    • It’s a great way to use up bananas that are turning brown!
    Can you use too many bananas in banana bread?

    YES! Using too much banana can make the bread soggy and too dense. This recipe calls for only 3 bananas (about 1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas).

    How do you ripen bananas?

    If you have bananas that are not ripened but you want to make banana bread, place the bananas, still in the peels, on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 300° until they turn black. See my tips on how to ripen bananas in the oven!

    This banana bread is UNBELIEVABLE! https://fantabulosity.com

    How to Make Banana Bread

    I’ve made this recipe using regular loaf pans and mini loaf pans. Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me which way I make it because it’s delicious either way. However, if making in mini loaf pans, you’ll want to bake it for less time.

    Mini Loaf Pans

    The first time I made this, I knew I wanted to use the CUTEST little mini loaf baking pan so I knew I need to adjust the bake time.

    If you’re using a mini loaf pan (since all can be different) just start checking the middle after about 20 minutes of baking, and remove them when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

    Regular Loaf Pans

    My oven cooks SUPER fast, so I had to be cautious when it came to baking this banana bread. So where I had to bake my banana bread in regular size loaf pans for 40 minutes, it may take anywhere from 40-55 minutes for your oven.

    Periodically check with a toothpick until the center comes out clean after about 40 minutes.

    SIDE NOTE: Since I used two different pans, they both cooked differently too. One pan was much thinner than the other, so that loaf of bread finished before the other.

    How to Make this EASY Banana Bread

    Easy Banana Bread

    Start with RIPE Bananas

    I’m not going to lie. When I see at least 3 bananas on my counter that are starting to turn a little brown, I get a little too excited.

    I despise eating bananas by themselves. But turn them into banana bread, and you can’t keep me out of it.

    For this recipe, start with ripe bananas.

    Don’t worry… if you need to make it NOW, and the store only had underripe bananas… it’s ok. I’ve been impatient before and still make it. It turned out just fine! But see my tip above for ripening bananas if you want to!

    Ripe bananas recipes

    Buttermilk

    I truly believe there’s an ingredient in this banana bread recipe that makes it so good, and moist.  Buttermilk. Yes, really!

    Buttermilk Substitute

    Don’t have buttermilk on hand, DON’T worry! In a small dish or bowl, mix together 1/2 cup milk with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice! Works perfect every time!

    Buttermilk makes banana bread moist!

    Banana Bread Batter

    With a mixer, mix together the butter and the sugar.

    Banana Bread few ingredients - moist and the BEST

    Next, add in the mashed bananas and the eggs.

    How to mash bananas - ziploc bag

    Pro Tip: Throw your bananas into a Ziploc bag, seal, and mash them with your hands through the bag or with a rolling pin!

    flour, baking soda, salt mixture

    In a separate bowl, mix together your flour, baking soda, and salt.

    Alternate the flour mixture and the buttermilk

    Next, fold in the dry ingredients, alternating the buttermilk (or milk and lemon juice) with the flour.

    Mix together milk and lemon juice to make buttermilk for banana bread
    Mix together the banana bread ingredients

    Once that is mixed, you’re ready to add to your desired, greased baking dish.

    How Long to Bake Banana Bread in Oven…

    Mini loaves take me about 20 minutes, and two regular loaf pans take about 40 minutes.

    Pour batter in to two different regular size loaf pans
    Banana Bread Recipe - Easy and the BEST

    How Long to Cool Banana Bread

    Once you remove your banana bread from the oven, let sit a few minutes and then release it from the loaf pan to fully cool on a wire rack. (I do this when we want to eat it in a hurry.)

    Banana Bread - moist and the best

    Slice and serve!

    But do me a favor… if you’re making it just for fun, give it a try when it’s warm. You won’t regret it.

    Easy Banana Bread Recipe

    How long does banana bread last?

    Banana bread can sit out on the counter for four days. However, I prefer to put it in a container after a day or so, to prevent it from drying out and even refrigerate it to help it last longer. (But honestly, it never lasts more than a day in our house anyway!)

    How to Freeze Banana Bread

    You can freeze banana bread for up to 3 months, as long as it’s stored correctly! It’s best to store, wrapped, in a freezer bag, freezer paper or even a vacuum-sealed bag. (Just remember to choose the setting that won’t flatten it out while removing the air.)

    More bread recipes like this one that you’ll love:

    If you loved this recipe, then you’ll also love this Easy Bread Pudding Recipe and this Banana Bread Pudding!

    sliced banana bread on white plate

    Easy Banana Bread Recipe

    Jessica Burgess
    It's the secret ingredient in this simple banana bread recipe that makes it so moist and so delicious. Plus, it's easy, quick, and an addictive recipe you'll make over and over. 
    4.43 from 80 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Breakfast, Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 352 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1/2 cup buttermilk or you can combine 1/2 cup milk with 2 teaspoons lemon juice & set aside to curdle
    • 3/4 cup butter softened (1-1/2 sticks)
    • 1-1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1-1/2 cup very ripe bananas mashed, which is about 3 large bananas
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Mix-Ins (optional):

    • chocolate chips
    • nuts walnuts or pecans
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and the sugar.
      Banana Bread few ingredients - moist and the BEST
    • Add in the mashed bananas and eggs. Mix together until well combined.
      How to mash bananas - ziploc bag
    • In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
      flour, baking soda, salt mixture
    • Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk alternately to the wet mixture, and mix with a hand mixer on low or by hand until combined. (If you're adding chocolate chips/nuts, add to mixture and hand stir to combine.)
      Alternate the flour mixture and the buttermilk
    • If baking in regular-size loaf pans (split batter in half between the two.) 
      If using mini loaf pans, fill each cavities about half way.
      Pour batter in to two different regular size loaf pans
    • If baking in regular-size loaf pans, bake at 325 for 40-45 minutes. (Some have stated their ovens do better at baking for 50-55 minutes.) 
       If baking in mini loaf pans, bake at 325 and begin checking after 20 minutes with a toothpick to see if it comes out clean. (Because each mini loaf size is different like mentioned above.)
      Banana Bread Recipe - Easy and the BEST

    Video

    Notes

    How long does banana bread last?
    Banana bread can sit out on the counter for four days. However, I prefer to put it in a container after a day or so, to prevent it from drying out and even refrigerate it to help it last longer. (But honestly, it never lasts more than a day in our house anyway!)
    How to Freeze Banana Bread
    You can freeze banana bread for up to 3 months, as long as it’s stored correctly! It’s best to store, wrapped, in a freezer bag, freezer paper or even a vacuum-sealed bag. (Just remember to choose the setting that won’t flatten it out while removing the air.)
    Can you use too many bananas in banana bread?
    YES! Using too much banana can make the bread soggy and too dense. This recipe calls for only 3 bananas (about 1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas).
    How do you ripen bananas?
    If you have bananas that are not ripened but you want to make banana bread, place the bananas, still in the peels, on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 300° until they turn black.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice (1/8 loaf) | Calories: 352kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 611mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 625IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.7mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

    Keywords classic banana bread, easy banana bread recipe, homemade banana bread
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « How to Cook Steak in the Oven
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    Filed Under: Breads, Desserts, Oven Baked, Recipes Tagged With: fantabulous, quick recipe, recipe, toddler

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Judee Hamilton says

      February 24, 2022 at 10:46 pm

      Does this recipe make one regular loaf?

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        February 25, 2022 at 3:50 pm

        Hi Judee. It makes 2 regular size loaves. (If you’ll see the photos in the post – or in the recipe card – it says to split the batter between two loaf pans, and those are regular size.) I hope that helps!

        Reply
        • Karen Schlenvogt says

          April 12, 2022 at 6:00 pm

          I like using cupcake pans with the cupcake papers. It’s easy and only takes about 20 minutes to bake.

          Reply
          • Jessica says

            April 12, 2022 at 9:21 pm

            Oh yum!! So glad that you liked it like that and thank you for letting us know how long!

            Reply
    « Older Comments

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