Popular since the 1930s, banana bread is a quick bread made with ripe bananas. It’s perfect for using up overripe bananas, and it’s a delicious way to start the day or enjoy a snack. This recipe yields one loaf of moist, flavorful banana bread.
How Ripe Should The Bananas Be?
For the best flavor, use bananas that are brown and spotty. Bananas that are entirely yellow with no brown spots will work in a pinch, but they won’t be as sweet or flavorful. Avoid using entirely brown bananas, as they’ll be too mushy and make for a dense loaf of bread.
Types Of Bananas To Use In The Bread
- Cavendish bananas
- Plantain bananas
Note:
Plantains are a bit starchier than Cavendish bananas, so they’ll make for a denser loaf of banana bread. If you use plantains, you may want to reduce the amount of flour by 1/4 cup.
Mashing The Bananas
When it comes to banana bread, the riper the bananas, the better. Not only do overripe bananas have more flavor, but they’re also much easier to mash. For this recipe, you’ll need about 2 cups of mashed banana, which is equivalent to 4 or 5 medium-sized bananas.
If your bananas are too ripe, they may be difficult to mash with a fork. In this case, you can place them in a bowl and use a potato masher or an immersion blender to mash them until smooth.
Key Tips For The Best Banana Bread
- Use overripe bananas for the sweetest, most flavorful bread.
- Mash the bananas until they’re smooth for the best texture.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter; mix just until all of the ingredients are combined.
- Bake the bread until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing and serving.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a loaf of delicious banana bread that’s perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert. Just be sure to use ripe bananas for the best flavor and texture.
Why Is Banana Bread So Moist?
Banana bread is moist because of the high content of moisture in bananas. When ripe, bananas contain up to 74% water. This high moisture content helps to keep the bread moist and prevents it from drying out.
What If The Banana Bread Gets Too Moist And Sticky?
If your banana bread is too moist and sticky, it’s likely because you’ve used too much banana. For this recipe, you’ll need about 4 or 5 medium-sized bananas. If you find that your bread is too moist, try reducing the number of bananas next time.
Banana Bread Recipe
Equipment
- Electric Oven
- Electric Beater
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 0.5 tbsp salt
- 0.5 tbsp baking powder
- 0.5 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 0.25 tbsp ground nutmeg
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp eggs at room temperature
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups mashed ripe bananas about 4 or 5 medium bananas
- 0.5 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter and dust with flour.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, add the butter and sugar and cream them together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Add mashed bananas and mix until well combined.
- Optional: Stir in nuts or chocolate chips, if desired.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Slice and serve.
Enjoy!
Notes
Serving Suggestions
Serve banana bread sliced and toasted with butter, or use it as a base for banana bread French toast.Storage Suggestions
Banana bread can be stored at room temperature, tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, for up to 3 days. To extend its shelf life, you can also store banana bread in the freezer, tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, for up to 2 months. Thaw frozen banana bread overnight in the refrigerator before serving.Nutrition
Wrap Up
Whether you’re using overripe bananas or plantains, this banana bread recipe is sure to please. Just be sure to use ripe bananas for the best flavor and texture. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can always stir in some chopped nuts or chocolate chips for an extra bit of flavor.