Easy Moist Banana Bread Recipe

If you love our Cinnamon Swirl bread recipe, banana bread with applesauce, Oatmeal Banana Bread and our Applesauce Bread, I think you are going to love this easy quick bread recipe.

By the way – if you want a healthier version try our healthy banana bread recipe for new twist on the traditional banana bread. And if you like pumpkin, our recipe for Pumpkin Banana Bread is so delicious.

Why This Recipe Works

We love making this original recipe because if the rich banana flavor and amazing texture. We make it every Christmas for gifts and for our holiday dinners. You may even like Air Fryer Banana Bread, if you have an air fryer.

We have use this best banana bread recipe to make banana muffins for a delicious breakfast or an after school treat.

Ingredients

• Ripe Bananas – If you have them in the freezer, just allow to thaw. Check out these tips on How to Freeze Bananas.
• Egg – If you are out, check out The Best Egg Substitutes.
• Baking Soda – Check out these Baking Soda Substitutes

Scroll to the bottom for the full list of ingredients and recipe in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Chocolate – Add a handful of chocolate chips when you add in the flour. I would add in ½ cup of chocolate chips to make chocolate chip banana bread.
• Nuts – Add a handful of chopped nuts to this Easy Banana Bread batter if you like those. Walnuts or Pecans are really delicious in banana bread. You can start about a ½ cup of chopped nuts in the batter.
• Dried Fruit – You can try a variety of dried fruit to your banana bread recipe. Smaller dried fruit like dried cranberries, blueberries, and raisins work best.
  If you want to try larger dried fruit like peaches and pears, you will want to chop them first before mixing into the batter.
• Spices – Warming spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice tend to be very compatible with many sweet quick breads including banana bread.
• Brown Sugar – You can substitute brown sugar instead of the white sugar. I like to substitute ¼ cup brown sugar for a sweeter quick bread.
• Sour Cream – Add in ½ cup of sour cream or yogurt for an extra moist banana bread.

Everyone enjoys this Easy Banana Bread Recipe plain but adding in something else just makes it even more special.

How to Make Banana Bread

• Step 1 – Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 5×9 loaf pan with cooking spray. We also like to line the loaf pan with parchment paper to easily remove the bread.

Step 2 – Peel the bananas. (these can be from the freezer, just thaw first) Mash the bananas with a hand mixer or a spoon.

Step 3 – Stir in ⅓ cup butter, eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, sugar, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir sugar egg mixture well.

Step 4 – Add all purpose flour, baking soda and stir dry ingredients well in large bowl. You can also combine ingredients with a stand mixer.

Step 5 – Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake.

• Step 6 – Cook for 60 minutes. Use a toothpick inserted after 50 minutes into the center to make sure it comes out clean. 
• Step 7 – Let cool on a wire cooling rack before removing from pan. Set aside to cool completely.

Fastest Way to Mash Bananas

Did you know you can use your electric hand mixer to mash up the bananas? Yes, you can use a spoon or a fork, but the electric mixer is a faster method. It will also allow you to have a smoother and more moist bread.

Substitutions for a Healthy Banana Bread

• Replace sugar with honey.
• Use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
• Reduce the sugar to ½ cup when using very ripe bananas
• Replace the egg with ¼ cup of applesauce

How Do You Keep Banana Bread Moist?

The best way to keep banana bread moist for days is to wrap it tightly. Once your bread is baked and cooled, I recommend wrapping tightly in plastic wrap. 

Stored this way on the counter, your bread will stay moist up to 3 days.  If you’d like, you can store the bread wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.

However, this recipe never lasts long in my house. I’m lucky if I can get it to last one day. The entire family fights over the last slice.