This Banana Bread Recipe uses brown sugar and lots of bananas for the BEST flavor. Plus, it takes only 15 minutes to make by hand–no mixer required! Recipe includes a how-to video!
This is it: the BEST banana bread recipe. After over half a dozen recipe tests, I finally landed on a winner. This recipe makes a moist, super flavorful (thanks to our key players: bananas, buttermilk, brown sugar, and vanilla), and easily customizable banana bread, a near cousin to my popular carrot cake recipe.
Want to add nuts? Go for it! Like chocolate chip banana bread? Throw them in too. Or, go a little crazy and add both–this recipe can handle it!
My banana bread recipe is closely based off of my popular banana muffins. That recipe has received nothing but rave reviews, and it took just a few modifications to make it perfect for baking in a bread pan. Serve yours warm with a little bit of honey butter (people do eat banana bread with butter, right?), and you’ve got yourself a slice of pure perfection.
Try it, and you can thank me later!
What You Need
My banana bread recipe is simple and uses basic ingredients:
- Bananas. The browner, spottier, and riper the better and more flavorful your finished bread will be.
- Oil & butter. As with my vanilla cake recipe, I’ve found a blend of oil and butter gives this cake the best texture and flavor. Make sure to melt your butter before using.
- Sugar. I use a blend of brown sugar and granulated for the most flavor. Dark or light brown sugar will work here; dark will give you a richer flavor, slightly more moist texture, and will make the cake darker.
- Eggs. Large, extra large, or jumbo will work here.
- Vanilla extract and salt. For flavor!
- Buttermilk. This adds moisture and flavor to the cake. Real, full-fat buttermilk is best, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can always make my buttermilk substitute instead. To do this, combine ¾ teaspoon of lemon juice (or white vinegar) with ¼ scant cup milk, stir, and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Baking powder & baking soda. To give the bread a bit of lift.
SAM’S TIP: Sprinkle a little bit of extra granulated sugar over the batter just before baking for added flavor and texture.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make The Best Banana Bread Recipe
- Mash your bananas. The riper the better!
- Stir together bananas, oil, and butter, then mix in sugar, brown sugar, buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract.
- Whisk together your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt) separately.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients gently.
- Pour into a greased bread pan and sprinkle generously with sugar (optional, but not really).
- When your banana bread is a beautiful golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, it’s finished baking!
SAM’S TIP: Don’t over-mix your batter! Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients together until just combined; it’s okay if you see some faint flour streaks when you’re done.
Frequently Asked Questions
VERY ripe bananas are ideal. We’re talking dark brown, spotty, and mushy–pretty much the opposite of what you’d like to eat! Super ripe bananas have the most flavor and will subsequently make your bread super flavorful too.
Absolutely! Stir in 1¼ cup coarsely chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts are great choices), chocolate chips, or even raisins at the end. Just remember to not over-mix!
Store at room temperature in an airtight container (or wrapped with plastic wrap) for up to three days. It can also be tightly wrapped and frozen for several months!
First make sure you do not over-bake the bread, as this is the quickest way to make it dry. Once it’s cooked and cooled, store your banana bread tightly wrapped at room temperature and enjoy within 3 days for best results. Do NOT refrigerate–this will dry out the bread!
SAM’S TIP: If using nuts, try toasting them first for added flavor! To do this, simply spread the nuts on a baking sheet in an even layer and bake on 350F for 5-10 minutes, turning halfway through.
Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook.
The BEST Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (385 g) well-mashed overripe bananas this is usually 3 large ripe bananas for me (355ml)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) canola or vegetable oil
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter melted
- ⅔ cup (135 g) light or dark brown sugar firmly packed
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten, room temperature preferred
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk¹
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose plain flour
- ¾ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups chocolate chips or chopped nuts² optional
- ¼ cup (50 g) coarse or granulated sugar for sprinkling optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and grease the bottom and ½" up the sides of a 9×5" bread pan. Set aside.
- Combine mashed bananas, canola oil, and melted butter in a large bowl and stir until well-combined.1 ½ cups (385 g) well-mashed overripe bananas, ¼ cup (60 ml) canola or vegetable oil, ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter
- Add sugars and stir well.⅔ cup (135 g) light or dark brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- Stir in eggs and vanilla extract.2 large eggs, 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- Add buttermilk and stir until thoroughly combined.¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk¹
- In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.2 cups (250 g) all-purpose, ¾ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add dry ingredients to wet and carefully, gently using a spatula (not an electric mixer) fold ingredients together until just combined. Don’t overmix the batter or your banana cake could end up dense/dry. If adding nuts/chocolate chips, stir them in here.1 ¼ cups chocolate chips or chopped nuts²
- Pour batter into prepared pan and, if desired, sprinkle generously with coarse sugar.¼ cup (50 g) coarse or granulated sugar for sprinkling
- Transfer to 350F (175C) oven and bake 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted all the way into the center of the cake comes out clean or preferably with a few moist crumbs. Do not over-bake your banana bread or it will be dry.
Notes
¹Buttermilk
If you don’t have buttermilk in your fridge, you can use my easy buttermilk substitute instead.²Adding nuts
If you have nuts that aren’t already chopped, I recommend toasting them first for an even better flavor. To toast, layer 1 ½ cup of walnut or pecan halves over a baking sheet and bake on 350F for about 8 minutes. Allow the nuts to cool then use a large knife to coarsely chop. I don’t recommend toasting pre-chopped nuts just because they don’t always cook evenly and could end up burned.Storing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This recipe also freezes well, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and it will keep for several months!Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
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This recipe was originally published March 18th 2019.
Dennis
I followed the recipe including roasting the walnuts which my wife loved. I used a thermopen to check the temperature and pulled it at 200 degrees. It was so moist. It is difficult for me to know when a loaf bread or cake is done with the old tooth pick method. By checking it with a temp gauge it took all the guess work out. I will make this again.
LisaB
I feel like the butter could be omitted when adding the walnuts, which I ground into meal. The batter was delicious as written, though. Can’t wait for a slice.
CK Wind
so easy, so yummy. next time adding raisins. didn’t have white sugar, used brown plus some Splenda, came out perfectly. will make again!
Tammy
I love this recipe. I have made it several times. My grand daughter enjoys taking it to school and sharing with friends. Thanks for making everything so user friendly.
Jeanne Meyer
Really delish!! I forgot to add the butter ( too much going on in the house) but the Banana Bread came out perfect… when I spread the butter on top of the piece of bread I am about to eat it still tasted delicious!! Thank you again !! Next time I won’t forget the butter… ha !!
Shiree Wilson
This is the best banana bread recipe I have ever made! The only thing I did differently was to add a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg 😀 YUMMY!!! 😀
Sandra Ward
the BEST I have ever made!! Thank you!!
Kourtney Leibman
I live in a family of extremely picky eaters. My 7 year old likes the idea of banana bread but often doesn’t eat more than a bite or two. When I made this tonight, he ate two and half pieces! I was amazed and also don’t blame him one bit because it turned out SO well! It’s moist and not dense at all like my banana bread usually turns out.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yay! We’re so happy our recipe was a winner for your family Kourtney! Enjoy ☺️
Carmen
I did not have enough bananas for the full recipe. I scaled the recipe to one-half and made 6 large muffins. They were awesome! I love the texture and flavor. I added about 1/3 cup chopped pecans. I baked them about 24 minutes. They were rounded, plump, and beautifully browned.
L
oh my goodness this recipe is scrumptious.
Oycy
I have tried tons of banana bread recipes but this one tops them all. Everything is in total balance and I was truly overjoyed that I found my perfect one. Thanks for all those efforts in nailing perfection.
Mary
Good morning, well it’s 7:30 in Pataskala, Ohio and I just put this banana nut bread in my oven. Second time making it. I shared the first one with some neighbors and my husband. I use the walnuts and I thank you so much for sharing this recipe. We all love love it!
Sam
What a great way to start the day! I’m so glad you enjoy it so much, Mary! 🙂
Betty
I used your delicious banana bread recipe with chocolate chips added. It was so delicious and moist! My grandchildren all loved it. Now I make muffins for them with the same recipe! A big hit here. Thank you!
Tracy Cooper
Cool in the pan for a few minutes? Or turn out on a rack right away?
Sam
Hi Tracy! I typically let it cool for a few minutes before turning out onto a rack to finish cooling completely. 🙂
Donna L
62 years old and this is the only banana bread recipe I use! Thank you!
Sam
I’m so happy to hear this, Donna! Thank you so much for trusting my recipe, I appreciate it!!
Julie
I don’t know why it took me so long to try this recipe!! I have been searching for a banana bread recipe that is the right balance of sweet and “banana-y” and this is it. I accidentally left out the buttermilk and the bread still turned out amazing – not too dense and perfectly moist. Well done, Sam!! This is a keeper!
Anne
This banana bread is delicious. It is so moist and flavorful. I have been trying different recipes for years just waiting for that perfect one to come along and I finally feel like I hit the jackpot. The search is finally over!