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The Best Banana Bread Recipe

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This easy banana bread recipe makes the perfect moist and flavorful loaf every time! Made with ripe bananas, butter, and vanilla.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 very ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (you can use brown sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (you can use bleached)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda (or 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder)
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven: Set it to 350°F (175°C). You want the oven fully preheated before you pop in the loaf, so it bakes evenly.
  • Mash those bananas: In your mixing bowl, mash up the bananas until they’re mostly smooth but still a little chunky. Over-mashing will make the bread too dense, so aim for a mix of smooth and small banana bits.
  • Stir in the melted butter: Add your melted butter to the bananas and stir it all together. The butter adds richness and helps give the bread that soft, tender texture.
  • Mix in the egg, sugar, and vanilla: Whisk in the egg, followed by the sugar and vanilla. Make sure everything is well combined, but don’t overdo it—overmixing can lead to a tough loaf.
  • Add the dry ingredients: Sprinkle the flour, baking soda, and salt over the wet mixture. Gently fold everything together until just combined. You don’t want to see any more streaks of flour, but be careful not to overmix, as that can make the bread dense.
  • Pour into the loaf pan and bake: Grease your loaf pan (or line it with parchment paper for easy removal) and pour in the batter. Bake for about an hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Every oven is different, so start checking around 50 minutes.
  • Cool and enjoy: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. If you can resist, wait until it’s fully cooled before slicing—it’ll be easier to cut and hold together better!

Notes

Serving suggestions: Elevate your banana bread game

When serving banana bread, I like to keep it simple. It’s wonderful just as it is, but here are a few ways to dress it up:

  • Butter or cream cheese: A spread of butter or cream cheese on a warm slice is absolute heaven.
  • Toasted with toppings: Try toasting a slice and adding almond butter or Nutella for an extra indulgent treat.
  • Breakfast platter: Serve slices alongside fresh fruit, yogurt, and a drizzle of honey for a complete breakfast.
  • Author: Lily
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 minutes
  • Category: Dessert