The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (2024)

Home | RECIPE | | Best Moist Banana Bread Recipe

Jump to Recipe

By: Shinee

Published: May 04, 2020

Updated: Feb 23, 2023

4.95 from 153 votes

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure.

My go-to banana bread recipe since 2013,and it’s the BEST!! This recipe makes two moistest and most flavorful breads with simple ingredients and just a wooden spoon! The only banana bread recipe you’ll ever need!!

Read on formy secret to thebest banana bread.

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (2)

Table of Contents

  • What makes this the best moist banana bread recipe
    • Here’re 3 reasons you’ll love this recipe:
  • The secret to moist banana bread
  • Key Ingredient Notes
  • How to prepare bananas
    • How to thaw frozen bananas:
  • How to make the best banana bread
    • choose the right bowl
    • To check the doneness
  • Storing Tip
    • Does banana bread need to be refrigerated?
    • how to keep the banana bread moist
    • Can you freeze banana bread?
  • Banana Bread FAQs
  • Watch Video: The BEST Banana Bread
  • Best Banana Bread Recipe

First, a quick disclaimer.I’m guilty of claiming some of my recipes the best of the best. I do realize that it’s quite subjective. But I promise you, I don’t take this term lightly.

This banana bread recipe has been my go-to since 2013! And yes, I tried other recipes too, but I always come back to this one. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I make this quick bread recipe almost weekly and it never lasts more than 3 days!

And more than 3 dozens of readers confirm my claim! (Just scroll through the comments…)

What makes this the best moist banana bread recipe

Extra-moist, not too dense, but not fluffy either, this quick bread is truly the best!

Here’re 3 reasons you’ll love this recipe:

  • basic ingredients – sugar, butter, flour, eggs, baking soda and bananas, obvi.
  • no mixer required – just grab a large bowl and wooden spoon!
  • totally customizable – add whatever add-ins you’d like, chocolate chips, nuts, anything!

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (3)

The secret to moist banana bread

So, the secret to the moistest bread is frozen bananas!

You may have heard that super ripe bananas are key, and that’s definitely true.

However, over the years, I found that frozen over-ripe bananas turn a good banana bread into i-can’t-stop-eating-it kind!

Why?

Because when thawed, bananas get supermushy and liquid-y. And all that juices are gold! Don’t throw out the liquid, it makes the bread moist and flavorful.

Key Ingredient Notes

  • Frozen bananas – are key in this recipe for moistest and most flavorful banana bread. Be sure to freeze ripe or over-ripe bananas. You’ll need about 3.5-4 cups of mashed bananas. Do NOT discard juices from thawed banana, use everything to make the batter.
  • Sugar – Use granulated sugar. I don’t recommend reducing the sugar amount any further for proper texture.
  • Flour – Use unbleached all-purpose flour for the best texture.
  • Baking powder – is the main leavening agent for a tall and fluffy bread
  • Baking soda – is added for browning the bread. Without it, the bread comes out pale.
  • Add-ins – Feel free to add chopped pecans or walnuts, or even chocolate chips.

How to prepare bananas

When you get nice and ripe bananas with lots of dark spots all over, put them in the freezer. (And yes, black bananas are totally ok to use!)

Ideally, you’d want to peel the bananas before freezing.Call it lazy, but I never do that!

Instead, I just stick a cluster of ripe bananas,peels and all, straight into the freezer.

How to thaw frozen bananas:

  1. Runhot tap water over the frozen bananas in a sink for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Peel the skin when it softens and place the peeled bananas in a microwave-safe bowl.
  3. Microwave until bananas are completely thawed, about 3 minutes.

Sounds like a lot of work? Nah, it’s not really that bad, and for that amazing banana bread, you won’t even mind it!

If you already mashed your bananas before freezing (kuddos to you!), you’ll need about 4 cups of mashed bananas.

How to make the best banana bread

Ok, now that the bananas are ready, let’s get baking!

  1. Make the batter: mash the bananas, addsugar, butter and vanilla extract, and then stir in eggs.Lastly, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.Optional, add chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
  2. Bake: divide the batter into 2 greased bread pans. I use glass bread pans, but any bread pan would work. Bake for 50-60 minutes.

choose the right bowl

Use a very large bowl to make the batter. I use a 4qt bowl (the largest bowl of this set).

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (4)

To check the doneness

Insert a long wooden skewer or a toothpick. If it comes out clean, the bread is done!

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (5)

You can also make this recipe into muffins too!

And if you’d rather make half a batch (just 1 loaf, or 12 muffins), follow my banana muffin recipe instead. It’s the same recipe, but for a half batch.

Storing Tip

Does banana bread need to be refrigerated?

Technically, you don’t have to refrigerate banana breads.

  • Cover the bread and keep it on the counter for 1-2 days.

However, I always put them in the fridge. Mostly to keep them out of sight, or they’ll be gone in matter of hours.

how to keep the banana bread moist

Make sure to cover it with plastic wrap or put it in an airtight container.

To serve, I microwave a slice for 30 seconds or so, and it’ll taste like fresh out of oven!

Can you freeze banana bread?

This bread also freezes well.

  • Wrap the cooled bread well in plastic and put it in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To thaw, transfer the bread into the fridge overnight.

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (6)

Banana Bread FAQs

How many bananas in a cup?

About 2 medium bananas make 1 cup of mashed bananas.

How long does banana bread last?

Banana bread can last up to 1 week in the refrigerator, or frozen for up to 3 months.

How ripe should bananas be for banana bread?

Bananas are ready for making a banana bread when they start to soften and small black dots start to appear.

Hope you’ll try this recipe soon. And please snap a photo and share it on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag me @shineshka, so I can see it too!

Thank you!!

Watch Video: The BEST Banana Bread

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (7)

4.95 from 153 votes

Best Banana Bread

By Shinee

My go-to banana bread recipe since 2013! This recipe makes two moistest and most flavorful banana breads with simple ingredients and just a wooden spoon!

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 16 slices

Yields: 2 loaves

Save RecipePin RecipeCommentPrint Recipe

Ingredients

  • 8 frozen medium-to-large bananas Note 1
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter melted
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • 1- 1 ½ cups (120-180 g) chopped pecans optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

  • Peel and thaw frozen bananas in a microwave. Reserve all the juices and everything.

  • Prepare two 9×5-inch bread pan and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

  • In a large bowl, mash the thawed bananas with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth.

  • Add sugar,melted butter, eggs and vanilla extract. Using a wooden spoon, mix everything until combined.

  • Then add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix to combine.

  • Optional, add chopped pecans and/or other add-ins, like chocolate chips, dried fruits.

  • Dividethe batter evenly into the prepared pans.

  • Bake for 60 minutes, or until the inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before serving.

  • Keep the banana bread in the bread pan, covered tightly, in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Tips & Notes

Note 1: About 3.5-4 cups of mashed bananas.Frozen bananas are key in this recipe for moistest and most flavorful banana bread. Do NOT discard juices from thawed banana, use everything to make the batter.Watch my video above on how I thaw my frozen bananas. It’s really quick and easy!

Note 2: You can also make this recipe into muffins. This recipe will make 24 muffins, or follow my banana muffin recipe for half a batch.

For step-by-step photos and additional notes, readthe post above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice, Calories: 181kcal, Carbohydrates: 33.5g, Protein: 2.6g, Fat: 4.5g, Cholesterol: 25.7mg, Sodium: 182.9mg, Sugar: 17.4g

Course: Bread, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (8)

Did you make this?Share a comment or a review below!

This post was originally published on February 13th, 2013 and it was last updated on May 4th, 2020.

Baking Basics Breakfast Learn

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (9)

Hi, I’m Shinee!

Welcome! I’m so happy you’re here! I believe anyone can cook restaurant-quality food at home! And my goal is to help you to become a confident cook with my easy-to-follow recipes with lots of tips and step-by-step photos.

New? Start here

More about me

Easy Garlic Bread Recipe

Overnight Caramel Rolls

Sourdough Discard Crackers

Orange Chocolate Muffins

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~Sweet & Savory (2024)

FAQs

What happens when you substitute brown sugar for white sugar in banana bread? ›

Flavor: Brown sugar adds a richer, deeper caramel flavor to banana bread compared to the more neutral sweetness of granulated sugar. This pairs beautifully with the banana flavor. Moisture: Brown sugar has a higher molasses content than granulated sugar, which contributes to a moister and chewier banana bread texture.

Why does my banana bread not taste good? ›

Skimping on the sugar can dry out a loaf of banana bread and leave it flavorless. It turns out, sugar does more than just make things sweeter. When it comes to banana bread, cutting back on sugar will leave you with a dry loaf totally devoid of any distinguishable flavor.

Can you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

Fight the urge to use more banana than called for in your recipe. Using too much banana could make your bread heavy and damp in the center, causing it to appear undercooked and unappealing. If you have bananas leftover, you can always freeze them for later use.

How do you keep banana bread moist when baking? ›

You can use light or extra-virgin olive oil. The olive oil will make any bread cake moist. Other things I do for my banana bread are adding a little molasses, just a little bit more sugar and vanilla flavor and more bananas. I usually let it cool a little and then wrap it in aluminum foil.

What is better for you white sugar or brown sugar? ›

While they are produced differently, resulting in distinct tastes, colors, and culinary uses, brown sugar is often simply processed white sugar with molasses. Contrary to common belief, they are nutritionally similar. Brown sugar contains slightly more minerals than white sugar but will not provide any health benefits.

What happens if I use all brown sugar instead of white sugar? ›

In most baking recipes, you can substitute brown sugar for white sugar in a one-to-one ratio. So, if your recipe calls for one cup of white sugar, swap one cup of brown sugar. The sweetness level will be the same, but the brown sugar may change the texture of your baked goods.

What happens if you add an extra egg to banana bread? ›

Adding more eggs makes for a spongy, less flavorful banana bread. Doubling the number of eggs I was using resulted in a spongy cake with a moist texture. While the banana flavor was present, it wasn't as prominent as it was in other loaves. This had more of a hint of flavor.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for banana bread? ›

As a general rule, you can use either baking soda OR baking powder in banana bread – both ingredients will make your banana bread rise. While baking soda will react with acidic ingredients in the batter to raise your bread, baking powder can leaven banana bread without the addition of acidic ingredients.

Why is my banana bread still raw in the middle? ›

It is pretty simple to salvage an undercooked bread and create a decent loaf. Heat the oven to 350 F, return the bread to the oven, and bake for another 10 to 20 minutes. This will work even if the loaf has cooled, which is similar to par-baking bread.

Why is my banana bread always so dense? ›

An overmixed banana bread batter will result in a dense, rubbery loaf. As you're prepping your batter, heed the advice of "stir until just moistened" and "no more than 10 seconds."

Can you leave freshly baked banana bread out overnight? ›

If you're planning to eat your banana bread within three to four days, it can be left out at room temperature. To keep it fresh, place a paper towel in the bottom of an airtight container. Place the loaf of banana bread on top, add another paper towel, and put the lid on the container.

Why does my banana bread fall after I take it out of the oven? ›

The banana bread will not rise much during baking and may sink slightly in the centre on cooling, but should not collapse competely. If it did collapse then it is likely that the banana bread had not quite baked fully (and in light of the ingredient change may have needed a slightly longer baking time).

What does brown sugar vs white sugar do in baking? ›

In that role, white sugar aerates the dough when creamed with butter for thick and puffy cookies. Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more.

Can you replace brown sugar with white sugar in bread? ›

Plain white sugar. When all else fails, you can replace brown sugar with an even measurement of granulated white sugar without fear of ruining your recipe. White sugar lacks the same rich flavor that brown sugar adds, but depending on the type of recipe, you may not notice much flavor change at all.

Does brown sugar have the same effect as white sugar? ›

Health experts say that moderation is key while consuming brown or white sugar. Brown sugar may be better than white sugar for baking recipes and rich in flavor. While both sugars impact blood sugar levels, regardless of type, they can lead to weight gain, dental issues, and an increased risk of health problems.

Can I use brown sugar to beat egg white? ›

Conclusion: For my case whipping brown sugar with egg whites resulted in a denser sponge cake. So I'd recommend sticking to granulated sugar but if you run out of it brown sugar is still a good option, just that it might not give you the texture you want.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 6458

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.