My go-to banana bread recipe since 2013, and it’s the BEST!! This recipe makes two moistest and most flavorful breads with simple ingredients and just a wooden spoon! The only banana bread recipe you’ll ever need!!
Read on for my secret to the best banana bread.
Table of Contents
- What makes this the best moist banana bread recipe
- The secret to moist banana bread
- Key Ingredient Notes
- How to prepare bananas
- How to make the best banana bread
- Storing Tip
- Does banana bread need to be refrigerated?
- how to keep the banana bread moist
- Can you freeze banana bread?
- Banana Bread FAQs
- Watch Video: The BEST Banana Bread
- Best Banana Bread Recipe
First, a quick disclaimer. I’m guilty of claiming some of my recipes the best of the best. I do realize that it’s quite subjective. But I promise you, I don’t take this term lightly.
This banana bread recipe has been my go-to since 2013! And yes, I tried other recipes too, but I always come back to this one. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I make this quick bread recipe almost weekly and it never lasts more than 3 days!
And more than 3 dozens of readers confirm my claim! (Just scroll through the comments…)
What makes this the best moist banana bread recipe
Extra-moist, not too dense, but not fluffy either, this quick bread is truly the best!
Here’re 3 reasons you’ll love this recipe:
- basic ingredients – sugar, butter, flour, eggs, baking soda and bananas, obvi.
- no mixer required – just grab a large bowl and wooden spoon!
- totally customizable – add whatever add-ins you’d like, chocolate chips, nuts, anything!
The secret to moist banana bread
So, the secret to the moistest bread is frozen bananas!
You may have heard that super ripe bananas are key, and that’s definitely true.
However, over the years, I found that frozen over-ripe bananas turn a good banana bread into i-can’t-stop-eating-it kind!
Why?
Because when thawed, bananas get super mushy and liquid-y. And all that juices are gold! Don’t throw out the liquid, it makes the bread moist and flavorful.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Frozen bananas – are key in this recipe for moistest and most flavorful banana bread. Be sure to freeze ripe or over-ripe bananas. You’ll need about 3.5-4 cups of mashed bananas. Do NOT discard juices from thawed banana, use everything to make the batter.
- Sugar – Use granulated sugar. I don’t recommend reducing the sugar amount any further for proper texture.
- Flour – Use unbleached all-purpose flour for the best texture.
- Baking powder – is the main leavening agent for a tall and fluffy bread
- Baking soda – is added for browning the bread. Without it, the bread comes out pale.
- Add-ins – Feel free to add chopped pecans or walnuts, or even chocolate chips.
How to prepare bananas
When you get nice and ripe bananas with lots of dark spots all over, put them in the freezer. (And yes, black bananas are totally ok to use!)
Ideally, you’d want to peel the bananas before freezing. Call it lazy, but I never do that!
Instead, I just stick a cluster of ripe bananas, peels and all, straight into the freezer.
How to thaw frozen bananas:
- Run hot tap water over the frozen bananas in a sink for 1-2 minutes.
- Peel the skin when it softens and place the peeled bananas in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave until bananas are completely thawed, about 3 minutes.
Sounds like a lot of work? Nah, it’s not really that bad, and for that amazing banana bread, you won’t even mind it!
If you already mashed your bananas before freezing (kuddos to you!), you’ll need about 4 cups of mashed bananas.
How to make the best banana bread
Ok, now that the bananas are ready, let’s get baking!
- Make the batter: mash the bananas, add sugar, butter and vanilla extract, and then stir in eggs. Lastly, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Optional, add chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
- Bake: divide the batter into 2 greased bread pans. I use glass bread pans, but any bread pan would work. Bake for 50-60 minutes.
choose the right bowl
Use a very large bowl to make the batter. I use a 4qt bowl (the largest bowl of this set).
To check the doneness
Insert a long wooden skewer or a toothpick. If it comes out clean, the bread is done!
You can also make this recipe into muffins too!
And if you’d rather make half a batch (just 1 loaf, or 12 muffins), follow my banana muffin recipe instead. It’s the same recipe, but for a half batch.
Storing Tip
Does banana bread need to be refrigerated?
Technically, you don’t have to refrigerate banana breads.
- Cover the bread and keep it on the counter for 1-2 days.
However, I always put them in the fridge. Mostly to keep them out of sight, or they’ll be gone in matter of hours.
how to keep the banana bread moist
Make sure to cover it with plastic wrap or put it in an airtight container.
To serve, I microwave a slice for 30 seconds or so, and it’ll taste like fresh out of oven!
Can you freeze banana bread?
This bread also freezes well.
- Wrap the cooled bread well in plastic and put it in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To thaw, transfer the bread into the fridge overnight.
Banana Bread FAQs
About 2 medium bananas make 1 cup of mashed bananas.
Banana bread can last up to 1 week in the refrigerator, or frozen for up to 3 months.
Bananas are ready for making a banana bread when they start to soften and small black dots start to appear.
Hope you’ll try this recipe soon. And please snap a photo and share it on Instagram. Don’t forget to tag me @shineshka, so I can see it too!
Thank you!!
Watch Video: The BEST Banana Bread
Best Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 8 frozen medium-to-large bananas Note 1
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter melted
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1- 1 ½ cups (120-180 g) chopped pecans optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Peel and thaw frozen bananas in a microwave. Reserve all the juices and everything.
- Prepare two 9×5-inch bread pan and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mash the thawed bananas with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth.
- Add sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla extract. Using a wooden spoon, mix everything until combined.
- Then add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix to combine.
- Optional, add chopped pecans and/or other add-ins, like chocolate chips, dried fruits.
- Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until the inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before serving.
- Keep the banana bread in the bread pan, covered tightly, in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Tips & Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on February 13th, 2013 and it was last updated on May 4th, 2020.
I have been making this recipe in the last few months and it has been a true pleasure. Not only is the recipe easy to follow, it has not let me down yet. I keep getting requests for this deliciously moist banana bread. A true winning recipe.
Hi, Roberto. Thank you so much for your feedback! I’m so glad you all are enjoying this bread. 🙂
Hi Shinee! One of your followers asked about a carrot cake variation, I believe. I couldn’t read the text. If there is a variation for carrot cake, would you please share with us all? I love moist carrot cake! Thank you for sharing this recipe. 5 years later and I’m just seeing this fabulous post and my bread is in the oven right now.
Hi there! Here’re 2 versions of carrot cake on my site: Mini Carrot Cake with Candied Pecans and Layered Carrot Cake. Hope you enjoyed the banana breads!
I made it and it was delish! I added about 1/2cup of water. It was very moist! Thank you for a great recipe!!
Yay, so glad you made and enjoyed this recipe. May I ask what was additional water for?
Hi my name is Mario. I was wondering if I could make a strudel topping and put it on top of my banana bread in a 13/9 baking pan?
Hi, Marion. Though I never tried making my banana bread in 9×13 pan and with strudel, I don’t see why you couldn’t. Give it a try and let me know.
Yes I actually have made some strudel and put it on my banana bread in a bunt cake and muffins with a powder sugar glaze and they can out delicious!😋
I always make my banana bread with frozen bananas. Just throw ripe bananas into a freezer bag and use as needed. I’ve given my recipe to so many people but they swear I’m holding out a secret ingredient because their’s doesn’t come out the same. I then realized I forgot to tell them about freezing the bananas. I think it has something to do with the sugar after freezing. Seems to give them a caramel taste.
Hi, Vickie. Frozen bananas definitely seem to be the secret. I too never realized that frozen bananas were the key, until I had made with ripe, but unfrozen bananas. Thanks for sharing!
Do you have a nutrition amount like carbs, protein, sugar, etc.?
Not at this time, Wynann. But you can put in the ingredient list into your preferred calorie counting system to calculate the info.
Honey, if you’re making and eating banana bread, nutrition info is redundant.
After a long time I felt like I got something out of a recipe exactly as described and as I expected. I halfed the recipe but used about 6 small frozen bananas and true to what the recipe said, frozen bananas actually made it so much better. I also added 1/4 tsp lemon extract which I plan on increasing to 1/2 tsp next time and i used about 1/4 cup of raisins and 1/4 cups of chopped walnuts for the halfed recipe. So easy and yummy and sure shot recipe!
Mm, thank you so much for your feedback! And I’m happy you enjoyed the banana bread. I’ll have to try with lemon extract next time, sounds interesting!
I’m gonna try this recipe tomorrow and let you know how it turned out…..thanks for sharing!
Hi, Rose. So glad you found this recipe. Hope you enjoyed the banana bread. Let me know how they turned out. 🙂
PS: instead of pecan nuts I used almonds and also I added cinnamon. Dried bananas on top are the perfect garnish
I have tried so many different recipes for banana bread, but this is literally by far the best.
Thank you so much for the frozen/ defrosted banana personal tip.
Kind regarts, Eicke
Yay, so glad to hear you enjoyed the banana breads. Yeah, the defrosted bananas are life-changing! 🙂 Thank you for your feedback, Eicke.