It’s the secret ingredient in this best banana bread recipe that makes it so moist and so delicious. Plus, it’s easy, quick, and delicious 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! While it’s moist and delicious on its own, it would be a fun treat to serve with some vanilla sauce, or even add some blackberries in this banana bread.
Photos Updated: November 2018!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Banana Bread
- How to Make the Best Banana Bread
- How to Make the Best Banana Bread
- Secret Ingredient – Buttermilk for Banana Bread
- Buttermilk Substitute
- Banana Bread Batter
- How Long to Bake Banana Bread in Oven
- How Long to Cool Banana Bread
- FAQs and Expert Tips
- How long does banana bread last?
- How to Freeze Banana Bread
- More Bread Recipes You’ll Love:
- Recipe
- Comments
Why You’ll Love This Banana Bread
- Secret Ingredient: It’s buttermilk (or substitute with a combination of lemon juice and milk), that creates a moist, flavorful banana bread.
- 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!
- Extra Bananas: It’s a great way to use up bananas that are turning brown!
How to Make the Best 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 the Best Banana Bread
For the full list of ingredients and instructions all in one place, see the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this post!
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 this old-fashioned banana bread NOW, and the store only had underripe bananas… you can ripen bananas for banana bread.
Secret Ingredient – Buttermilk for Banana Bread
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 ½ cup milk with 2 teaspoons of lemon juice! Works perfect every time!
Banana Bread Batter
With a mixer, mix the butter and the sugar.
Next, add in the mashed bananas and the eggs.
Pro Tip: Throw your bananas into a Ziploc bag, seal, and mash them with your hands through the bag or with a rolling pin!
In a separate bowl, mix together your flour, baking soda, and salt.
Next, fold in the dry ingredients, alternating the buttermilk (or milk and lemon juice) with the flour.
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.
How Long to Cool Banana Bread
Once you remove your banana bread from the oven, let it 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.)
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.
FAQs and Expert Tips
YES! Using too much banana can make the bread soggy and too dense. This recipe calls for only 3 bananas (about 1 ½ cups of mashed 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!
How long does banana bread last?
Banana bread can sit out on the counter for four days, and leaving it at room temperature will help it stay moist longer. Refrigerating banana bread can cause it to dry out faster.
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 You’ll Love:
If you loved this recipe, then you’ll also love this Easy Bread Pudding Recipe and this Banana Bread Pudding! Or try this chocolate quick bread.
If you love banana flavor for a sweet treat, this banana pudding poke cake recipe is one to save.
Recipe
BEST Banana Bread Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 2 loaf pans or mini loaf pans
- 2 mixing bowls
- measuring spoons and cups
- hand mixer or stand mixer
Ingredients
- ½ cup buttermilk or you can combine ½ cup milk with 2 teaspoons lemon juice & set aside to curdle
- ¾ cup butter softened (1½ sticks)
- 1½ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ 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
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and the sugar.¾ cup butter, 1½ cup granulated sugar
- Add in the mashed bananas and eggs. Mix together until well combined.1½ cup very ripe bananas, 2 eggs
- In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
- 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.)½ cup buttermilk, chocolate chips, nuts
- 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.
- 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.)
Notes
Nutrition
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.
Terry says
Easy and delicious. My fami!y loved this bread. Thank you.
Jessica says
This is fantastic to hear that you loved this banana bread recipe, thank you so much!
Jill says
My daughter loved this so much that she asked me to buy more rotten bananas so I could make more. Lol
Jessica says
😂 She’s the best.
Karen McD says
This is the best banana bread EVER! I make it all the time! I add walnuts and raisins, OMG! So moist with the buttermilk! This is the bestest ever!
Jessica says
I’m so glad that you liked this banana bread recipe too!! Agreed, the buttermilk makes allll the difference!
Geraldine Gordon says
Could you use self rising flour?
Jessica says
Hi Geraldine. I haven’t used self-rising flour before so I’m not sure how it would do. I’ve only used all-purpose flour.
Lori R. says
My family and I really loved your recipe, as is:)
Jessica says
Oh good!! It’s definitely a delicious recipe and I’m so glad that your family loves it. Thank you for sharing!
Judee Hamilton says
Does this recipe make one regular loaf?
Jessica says
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!
Karen Schlenvogt says
I like using cupcake pans with the cupcake papers. It’s easy and only takes about 20 minutes to bake.
Jessica says
Oh yum!! So glad that you liked it like that and thank you for letting us know how long!