Description
Traditional banana bread is a classic, moist quick bread made with ripe bananas and simple pantry ingredients. Lightly sweet, tender, and comforting, it’s perfect for breakfast, snacking, or dessert.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (or neutral oil)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (or half white, half brown sugar)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
Optional Add-Ins
- Chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas with melted butter and sugar until the mixture is well blended.
- Add Eggs and Flavoring: Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the banana mixture and mix thoroughly to incorporate.
- Add Dry Leavening Agents: Sprinkle baking soda and salt over the wet mixture and stir gently to combine evenly.
- Incorporate Flour: Gently fold in the all-purpose flour until just combined, taking care not to overmix to maintain a tender texture.
- Add Optional Ingredients: If desired, fold in chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips for added texture and flavor.
- Prepare for Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula or spoon.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful the bread.
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil during the last 10–15 minutes of baking.
- Store the bread wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate it for up to 1 week.
- Banana bread freezes well for up to 3 months when properly wrapped.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
