Today’s Best Banana Bread recipe is one of the recipes we make most whenever bananas start turning brown on the counter. With a house full of kids, teens, and their friends over the years, we’ve made a LOT of banana bread, and this simple version always disappears fast. It’s soft, delicious and so simple!
It’s also a sweet loaf made with bananas, brown sugar, melted butter, and simple pantry ingredients. We love that it’s easy to mix together and bakes into a tender banana bread that’s perfect for breakfast, snacks, lunchboxes, or sharing with neighbors.
We love this quick bread because the overripe bananas give it the best flavor, and the optional cinnamon sugar topping adds a sweet little finish without much extra work. It’s one of those classic bakes that makes the whole kitchen smell amazing and never lasts long.
For more banana bread favorites, be sure to try our Cream Cheese Banana Bread, Banana Crumb Muffins, and Brown Butter Banana Bread.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Next Level Flavor: Brown sugar and melted butter help make the loaf soft and sweet.
- Simple Pantry Ingredients: Keep it easy and budget-friendly.
- Overripe Bananas Add Moisture and Sweetness: Soft, spotty bananas make the loaf flavorful and tender.
- The Cinnamon Sugar Topping Adds Texture: A little sugar and cinnamon on top gives the bread a sweet finish before baking.
Best Banana Bread Recipe Ingredients
- All-purpose flour (1½ cups): Gives the banana bread structure and helps it bake into a sliceable loaf.
- Baking powder (1 teaspoon): Helps the bread rise and bake up tender.
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the loaf rise and works with the bananas for a soft texture.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and brings out the banana flavor.
- Overripe bananas, mashed (3 large; about 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas): Adds moisture, sweetness, and classic banana bread flavor.
- Sugar (½ cup): Sweetens the loaf and helps create a tender crumb.
- Packed light brown sugar (½ cup): Adds moisture, sweetness, and a little caramel flavor.
- Egg (1): Helps bind the batter and gives the bread structure.
- Unsalted butter, melted (4 tablespoons): Adds richness and buttery flavor.
- Sugar (1 tablespoon): Sweetens the optional topping.
- Ground cinnamon (½ teaspoon): Adds warm spice to the cinnamon sugar topping and is our favorite way to enjoy banana bread.
How to Make the Best Banana Bread Recipe
PREP. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 5-x-9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
BATTER. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together into a medium bowl. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix together bananas, both sugars, egg, and melted butter.
Fold in flour mixture and stir until smooth. Scoop batter into the prepared pan.
CINNAMON SUGAR MIXTURE. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the batter.
BAKE. Bake for 55–60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. (NOTE: If not adding cinnamon-sugar mixture, cover with aluminum foil for the last 20 minutes of baking.)
Banana Bread Recipe Troubleshooting
- How ripe should bananas be?
The riper, the better! Look for bananas with lots of brown spots or skins that are almost completely brown. They will be softer, sweeter, and give the bread much more banana flavor than yellow or slightly green bananas. - Can I use frozen bananas for this recipe?
Yes! Thaw frozen bananas completely before using. If they release a lot of extra liquid as they thaw, drain off the excess before measuring and mashing them for the batter. - Can I make this recipe into muffins?
Of course! For muffins, we recommend using our Banana Crumb Muffins recipe, which is already tested specifically for muffin tins. - Why is my banana bread dense?
Overmixing is usually the biggest culprit. Fold in the flour just until everything is combined. Too much banana can also make a loaf overly wet and heavy, which is another reason an exact mashed-banana measurement helps. - Why is my banana bread dry?
Start checking it near the end of the baking time and remove it as soon as it is baked through. Baking too long can dry out even a very moist batter.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Use very spotty, overripe bananas for the sweetest flavor and softest texture.
- Sift the dry ingredients so the baking powder, baking soda, and salt are evenly mixed.
- Use the right pan: We use a 9×5-inch loaf pan. A smaller pan will create a taller loaf and may require additional baking time
- Favorite Additions:
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips for the best all-around option
- Chopped walnuts for the most classic choice
- Chopped pecans for a slightly sweeter, buttery crunch
- Chocolate chips + walnuts for the best combination
Best Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Dough
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 large overripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cup mashed bananas)
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture (Optional)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a 5-x-9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- To make the dough, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together into a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix together bananas, both sugars, egg, and melted butter.
- Fold in flour mixture and stir until smooth. Scoop batter into the prepared pan.
- To make the cinnamon-sugar mixture, mix sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the batter.
- Bake for 55–60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. (NOTE: If not adding cinnamon-sugar mixture, cover with aluminum foil for the last 20 minutes of baking.)
Notes
- Use very spotty, overripe bananas for the sweetest flavor and softest texture.
- Sift the dry ingredients so the baking powder, baking soda, and salt are evenly mixed.
- Fold the flour mixture in gently and stop once the batter is smooth so the loaf stays tender.
- Use the cinnamon sugar topping for a pretty, sweet finish, or cover with foil during the last 20 minutes if skipping it.
- Make-ahead tip: bake the loaf a day ahead, wrap it tightly once cooled, and slice when ready to serve.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
Need to ripen bananas faster? Place them in a paper bag on the counter to speed things up. If your bananas are already very ripe but you aren’t ready to bake, freeze them for later.
Keep banana bread covered at room temperature for up to 4 days. Refrigerate for up to 1 week if you want it to last longer.
Freeze the whole loaf or individual slices for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature and warm slices slightly if desired.
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**This recipe was updated on 4/2/22 – made it even easier and yummier!
Looooveee this recipe! The ingredients are simple, the steps are easy, and the result is incredibly delicious. Highly recommend!
All the ads made me not even wanna bother with the recipe
My husband & grandkids love it. I do too.
Best banana bread recipe