Easy banana bread recipe that you can try! It’s simple, delicious, and perfect for using up ripe bananas.
Here’s a detailed recipe for making delicious and moist banana bread. This particular recipe captures the essence of many popular banana bread recipes while maintaining simplicity and flavor.
Ingredients
To make classic banana bread, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Ripe Bananas: 3-4 large, overripe bananas (about 1 1/2 to 2 cups mashed)
Butter: 1/2 cup (1 stick), unsalted, melted
Sugar: 3/4 cup (can adjust to 1/2 cup for less sweetness)
Eggs: 2 large, beaten
All-Purpose Flour: 1 1/2 to 2 cups
Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon
Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon
Optional Add-Ins:
1 cup of chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1 cup of chocolate chips or dried fruits
Instructions for banana bread
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
Mash the Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth. You can leave some chunks for texture.
Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix well. Then, stir in the beaten eggs and vanilla extract until fully combined.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix; lumps are okay.
Add Optional Ingredients: If desired, fold in the nuts or chocolate chips.
Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
Bake: Place the loaf in the preheated oven and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs. If the top is browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
Cool: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve: Slice the banana bread and enjoy it plain or slathered with butter.
Storage
Room Temperature: Covered at room temperature for 2-4 days.
Refrigerator: Can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, though it may dry out.
Freezing: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before serving.
Tips for Success
Bananas: Use very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots for the best flavor and sweetness5.
Mixing: Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender; mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated8.
Add-Ins: You can customize your banana bread with additional ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, or even spices like cinnamon for extra flavor6.
This recipe is flexible and allows for modifications to fit your taste! Enjoy your homemade banana bread.
