Easy Banana Bread Recipe

This is the perfect easy banana bread recipe. I have tried several different banana bread recipes, and I have found this to be the perfect moist banana bread recipe.

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

Ingredients You Need:

• Ripe bananas (ripe – if you have them in the freezer, just allow to thaw)
• Melted Butter
• Egg
• ¾ cup Sugar
• Vanilla
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Flour

How to make banana bread:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 5×9 loaf pan with cooking spray.

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

Stir in melted butter, eggs and vanilla extract, sugar,  and salt. Stir sugar egg mixture well.

Add all purpose flour, baking soda and stir dry ingredients well in large bowl. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake.

Cook for 60 minutes. Use a toothpick inserted after 50 minutes into the center to make sure it comes out clean. 

Let cool on a wire 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, 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 hole 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

Variations

1. 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.
   
2. NUTS – Add a handful of chopped nuts to this Easy Banana Bread batter if you like those. Walnuts are really delicious in banana bread. You can start about a ½ cup of chopped nuts in the batter.
   
3. 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.
   
4. SPICES – Warming spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice tend to be very compatible with many sweet quick breads including banana bread.
   
5. 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.

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

How long do you leave bread in the pan after baking?

Cool in pan about 10 minutes before taking out of the pan. Note this can vary based on different types of pans.

The bread will need to be room temperature. Let the bread cool completely.

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.

How to ripen Bananas

If you have bananas that are too green, there are a few things you can do to help them ripen faster. Place them in a brown paper bag and this will help the banana to get ripe.

If you want to speed it up even more, place an apple in the bag with them. This will further speed up the process.

You can also ripen bananas in the oven. Place the bananas, with the peels on, on a lined cookie sheet. Place in a 300 degree preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the peels are completely black.

Once finished, allow them to cool and they are ready to use.

How to Freeze banana bread

You can wrap it in saran wrap to freeze the entire loaf. You may also place the entire loaf in a freezer bag.

Freezing individual slices is also an option to be able to quickly take out for breakfast or snacks.

Simply place the slices on a cookie sheet. Place in the freezer until frozen. Then place the sliced in a freezer bag until ready to use. Now you can quickly thaw the sliced in the microwave or in the toaster.

Simply thaw on the counter when you are ready to eat. See Can you Freeze Banana Bread for more tips.

More Quick Bread Recipes:

• How to make Naan Bread
• Tasty Zucchini Bread
• Snickerdoodle Bread
• Pumpkin Bread
• Cinnamon Swirl Bread