This Easy Banana Bread Recipe is the absolute BEST! It is moist, packed with bananas, sweetened with brown sugar, and baked in a square pan for even and quick cooking. No mixer needed, grab a bowl and whisk, this bread is ready in under 30 minutes.
Recipe snapshot
TASTE: Bananas, brown sugar, and vanilla with a hint of buttery richness.
TEXTURE: This banana bread is super soft and moist.
SQUARE PAN: This banana bread is baked in a square cake pan instead of a loaf pan. This allows the bread to bake in as little as 20 minutes, and it bakes quickly and evenly every time. Note: If you’d prefer a different size pan there are instructions below.
What makes this recipe the best
For years, I have been on a search for the PERFECT banana bread. I wanted a recipe that is simple, with no fancy ingredients, just a flat-out delicious banana bread that bakes up perfectly every single time. HERE IT IS!
These ingredients and techniques make this recipe incredible:
- Bananas – This banana bread is absolutely loaded with bananas. I use 3-4 overripe bananas to make this bread sweet, moist, and packed with banana flavor.
- Brown sugar – The only sugar used in this bread is brown sugar. It is in the batter and it gets sprinkled on top before baking. The brown sugar gives the bread a deeper flavor and almost caramel-like sweetness.
- Vanilla extract – Banana and vanilla is a match made in heaven! Two teaspoons of vanilla extract lend an underlying vanilla flavor that pairs perfectly with the banana.
- Square pan – Using a square pan instead of a loaf pan means this bread bakes quickly and evenly. No worrying about the edges drying out before the center is cooked through.
What readers are saying…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’m never one to leave a review, but this banana bread is SO GOOD!! I have tried so many banana bread/muffin recipes and nothing can compare to this, my partner and I almost finished it in one day.”
“This is the BEST Banana Nut Bread I have ever had. Delicious. I have made it quite a few times and it always turns out yummy. Thank you for this recipe.”
How to make banana bread
*Full detailed recipe below in the recipe card.*
Whisk melted butter and brown sugar. Add mashed banana, vanilla, and eggs.
Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt.
Pour the batter into a greased 9×9 square pan and sprinkle the top with brown sugar. Bake until golden brown and cooked through.
Tips: baking with bananas
It’s important to use overripe bananas for this recipe. The skin of the bananas should have brown speckles or even be turning dark brownish-black. This ensures that the bananas mash smoothly and are extra sweet.
You will need 3-4 bananas (2 cups mashed).
Mash the bananas using a fork or potato masher.
I mash the bananas on a paper plate then fold the plate in half and slide the mashed banana into the measuring cup.
Ingredient swaps and modifications
I have made the following changes with success:
- Reduce the brown sugar to ½ cup (in the batter). I still recommend sprinkling brown sugar on top.
- Swap the melted butter for melted coconut oil or mild olive oil.
- Swap up to ¾ cup of all purpose flour for whole wheat flour.
- Add a generous handful of chopped walnuts to the batter.
- Love chocolate? Try our chocolate chip banana bread.
Different pan sizes
The recipe instructions are for a 9×9 square pan (my preference), but you can also use the following:
- Muffins: Divide batter between 12 greased muffin cups, adjust bake time to about 15 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
- 8×8 square: Adjust bake time to 35-45 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
- Loaf pan (9×5): Adjust bake time to 45-55 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
Recipe
Easy Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- ⅔ cup packed light brown sugar, make sure it is fresh and soft
- 2 large eggs
- 2 scant cups mashed very ripe bananas, about 3-4 bananas
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour*
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup light brown sugar (more, if desired), for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and ⅔ cup brown sugar until well combined, about 1 minute. Add eggs, mashed banana, and vanilla, whisking until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and use a rubber spatula to lightly stir the batter until no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to over mix.
- Grease a 9×9 square baking pan and add the batter to the pan. Smooth into an even layer. Sprinkle the top of the batter with ¼ cup (or more) brown sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating once during the bake time. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.
Video
Notes
- Muffins: Divide batter between 12 greased muffin cups, adjust bake time to about 15 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
- 8×8 square: Adjust bake time to 35-45 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
- Loaf pan (9×5): Adjust bake time to 45-55 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Kristina says
Can I use only 2 bananas?
Allison Mattina says
I think you’ll be short, unless the bananas are really big. You can try to make it up with applesauce. You need just under two cups.