A reliable recipe for real life
Banana bread is the delicious answer to overripe bananas: simple enough for a weekday bake and comforting enough to fill the kitchen with the smell of home.
This recipe relies on very ripe fruit for moisture and flavor, then keeps the mixing gentle so the finished loaf stays tender.
What you’ll need
Simple ingredients do their best work when each one has a clear purpose. The exact quantities and adjustable measurements are in the recipe card below.
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
How to make banana bread
Here’s the method at a glance. Use the interactive recipe card for the complete quantities and checkable cooking instructions.
- 01Prepare
Heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F. Grease and line a 9 × 5-inch loaf pan.
- 02Mash the bananas
Mash the ripe bananas in a large bowl until mostly smooth.
- 03Add wet ingredients
Stir in the melted butter, sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla.
- 04Add leavening
Mix in the baking soda and salt until evenly distributed.
- 05Fold in flour
Add the flour and fold only until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
- 06Bake
Pour into the pan and bake for 50–60 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- 07Cool
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then move to a wire rack and cool before slicing.
Recipe success tips
- ✓Use deeply spotted bananas for the best sweetness and strongest flavor.
- ✓Mix the flour in gently to avoid a tough, dense loaf.
- ✓If the top browns early, tent it loosely with foil for the remaining bake time.
Easy variations
Fold in 1/2 cup of toasted chopped walnuts or pecans.
Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and scatter a few over the top.
Add cinnamon and a small pinch of nutmeg with the flour.
Notes & storage
- The original published nutrition displayed 1,786 calories per serving, an obvious data error; this migration uses an estimated per-slice value.
- Store tightly wrapped for up to 3 days or freeze individual slices for up to 1 month.
Frequently asked questions
How ripe should the bananas be?
Use bananas with heavily spotted or dark skins. They mash easily and provide more sweetness and moisture.
Can I freeze banana bread?
Yes. Cool completely, wrap the loaf or slices well, and freeze in an airtight container.
Why is my loaf dense?
Overmixing after the flour is added can create a dense loaf. Fold only until the dry streaks disappear.
