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Banana Bread

Easy Banana Bread Recipe

Banana bread is a timeless favorite—soft, moist, and full of rich banana flavor. This classic version uses simple ingredients and requires no mixer, making it perfect for beginner bakers and seasoned pros alike.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 210 kcal

Ingredients
  

Basic Ingredients

  • 3 very ripe bananas medium to large
  • ½ cup 115 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • ¾ cup 150 g granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups 190 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional but recommended

Optional Add-Ins

  • ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup shredded coconut
  • 1 tablespoon flaxseed or chia seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat and Prepare

    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.

  • Mash the Bananas

    In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until mostly smooth. A few small lumps are fine and add texture.

Pro tip: The darker the banana peel, the sweeter and more flavorful your banana bread will be.

  • Mix Wet Ingredients

    Add melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix well. Stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until fully combined.

  • Combine Dry Ingredients

    In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

  • Make the Batter

    Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix gently just until no dry flour remains.

Do not overmix — this is the most common cause of dense banana bread.

  • Add Extras (Optional)

    Fold in nuts, chocolate chips, or other add-ins.

  • Bake

    Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

  • Cool

    Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Common Banana Bread Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

  1. Using underripe bananas → results in bland flavor
  2. Overmixing batter → leads to tough bread
  3. Incorrect oven temperature → use an oven thermometer
  4. Skipping cooling time → bread may crumble
  5. Too much flour → spoon and level, don’t scoop
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