Here’s a classic, moist Banana Bread recipe with step-by-step directions 🍌🍞
Classic Banana Bread
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
-
2 cups all-purpose flour
-
1 tsp baking soda
-
½ tsp baking powder
-
½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
-
½ cup unsalted butter, melted (or ½ cup vegetable oil)
-
¾ cup granulated sugar (or ½ cup sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar for more flavor)
-
2 large eggs
-
3–4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
-
¼ cup milk or yogurt (optional, makes bread extra moist)
Optional Add-ins
-
½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
-
½ cup chocolate chips
-
½ tsp cinnamon for extra warmth
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Prepare Oven and Pan
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
-
Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
-
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
-
Flour
-
Baking soda
-
Baking powder
-
Salt
-
Optional cinnamon
-
-
Set aside.
Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients
-
In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth.
-
Add melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and milk/yogurt. Mix until well combined.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
-
Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
-
Stir just until combined. Do not overmix to keep bread tender.
-
Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if using.
Step 5: Pour and Bake
-
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
-
Bake in preheated oven for 55–65 minutes, or until:
-
A toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
-
The top is golden brown
-
-
If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil for the last 10–15 minutes.
Step 6: Cool and Serve
-
Let the bread cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes.
-
Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Tips for Best Banana Bread
-
Use very ripe bananas (brown spots = sweeter flavor).
-
For extra moist bread, add 2 tbsp sour cream or Greek yogurt.
-
Can be stored in an airtight container for 3–4 days or frozen for longer storage.