This Easy Banana Bread Recipe is the absolute BEST! Moist, loaded with bananas, sweetened with brown sugar, and baked in a cake pan for even and quick cooking. No mixer needed, grab a bowl and whisk – ready in under 30 minutes.
If you asked me what I bake most often, the answer would undoubtedly be banana bread. And if you went poking around this website looking for my favorite banana bread recipe you would not have found it. Because, until today, I had not yet shared a banana bread recipe. Gasp!
For years, I have been on a search for the PERFECT Banana Bread. I wanted a recipe that is simple, with no fancy ingredients, and no trendy technique. Just a flat-out delicious Banana Bread that bakes up perfectly every single time.
Drumroll please… Here it is. Finally. The only Banana Bread recipe that I will make from here on out, and seriously – the best Banana Bread I have ever eaten.
Easy Banana Bread Recipe
Here’s what makes this recipe the best – and what sets it apart from others.
- Bananas – This banana bread is absolutely loaded with bananas. I use 3-4 overripe bananas to make this bread sweet, moist, and undeniably banana-flavored.
- 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. Bonus: the brown sugar topping creates sweet little pockets all over the top of the bread.
- 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 Cake Pan – This here is the game changer. I bake the banana bread in a 9×9 square cake pan instead of a loaf pan. This allows the bread to bake in as little as 20 minutes (as opposed to 1 hour in a loaf pan). Plus, no worrying about overcooking the edges and undercooking the center. Since it is not a loaf, it bakes evenly every time. Note: If you’d prefer using a different size pan there are instructions below.
- Mix-ins – You can keep this banana bread plain and simple, or you can add your favorite spices or mix-ins. Walnuts, chocolate chips or ground cinnamon would all be great!
This recipe requires NO mixer. Whisk the wet ingredients in a large bowl. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and stir until combined. Pour the batter into a greased 9×9 square pan and sprinkle the top with brown sugar. Bake until golden, fragrant and cooked through.
Banana Bread Muffins
Wondering if you can make this Banana Bread into muffins? Absolutely! The batter makes about 12 standard-sized muffins. I bake the muffins for about 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
These Banana Bread Muffins make a great lunchbox treat or on-the-go breakfast.
Making muffins is also a great way to make a variety of banana bread – sprinkle walnuts in some, chocolate chips in others, and even add raisins to a few of them. Just don’t forget the brown sugar topping!
Healthy Banana Bread
Prefer your Banana Bread on the healthier side? I have made the following changes with success:
- Reduce the brown sugar to 1/2 cup (in the batter). I still recommend sprinkling brown sugar on top.
- Swap the melted butter for melted coconut oil. Olive oil might work, too (I haven’t tried that yet, though).
- Reduce the melted butter to 6 tablespoons.
- Swap 3/4 cup of all purpose flour for whole wheat flour.
- Add a generous handful of chopped walnuts to the batter for a boost of omega-3’s.
This recipe will have you purposely overbuying bananas because you are going to want to have access to this bread every single day of your life. My current simple pleasure: a slice of Banana Bread slathered in honey butter and a piping hot cup of tea. It’s the little things, right?
BANANA BREAD 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).
MORE BANANA RECIPES: BANANA BUNDT CAKE – BROWN SUGAR BANANA FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE – BANANA PANCAKES – BANANA BAKED OATMEAL
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Easy Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed, 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 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 - 1/3 cup brown sugar (or more, if desired), for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and 2/3 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, using a rubber spatula, lightly stir the batter until no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to over mix.
- Grease a 9x9 square baking pan and add the batter to the pan. Smooth into an even layer. Sprinkle the top of the batter with 1/4 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).
- 8x8 square: Adjust bake time to 35-45 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
- Loaf pan (9x5): Adjust bake time to 45-55 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean).
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Patricia Myers
Can I ask . Can I put this recipe inn3/5 loaf pans. If so, how long donI bake them for. I just mashed my bananas so, I’m ready to bake. Please help.
Allison
I’m not sure what size pan you’re referring to. There are instructions for different pan sizes in the notes section. You can use other size pans as well, just adjust the bake time up or down accordingly.
Judy
I think if you bake the personal size 3×5 loaf pans 10 to 12 minutes, maybe 15 the same as the muffins they should be okay. That is the time I am going by, the muffin time she quoted.
Banana Bread Lover
i have been using this recipe for maybe 7 months now, since the start of quarantine and it works amazingly every single time. and i’m only a teen beginner baker. thank you so much!! i would give 6 stars if i could ❤️
Allison
That’s great! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Tricia
Can you make in a 13×9 pan?
Allison
I haven’t tried it, but I would assume so. You’d need to double it. Enjoy!
Alan
This is the first times I’ve baked anything in my life (I’m 72yrs old) and this is delicious. I cut back on the brown sugar and added walnuts and it is the best banana bread I’ve tasted.
Thank you for the recipe
Allison
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Christine
I’ve never left a review on a recipe before, but this was too good for me to skip over!! Best banana bread recipe I’ve tried so far. I did it in the 9×9 cake pan as suggested and added chocolate chips and walnuts. The brown sugar on top was a great finishing touch. My loaves usually come out soggy in the middle and overdone on the edges. This was cooked perfectly all around. Saving this as my go-to banana bread recipe!
Allison
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, it’s always nice to hear feedback from people who have tried my recipes. Take care!
Kim
Wow, Thanks for the recipe. It was way to easy. Best I’ve tried.
Allison
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Sarah
This is a foolproof recipe that turns out perfectly every time and is just so simple to make. Everyone who has tried it loves it. The texture and flavor are both superb and makes my apartment smell amazing. This is now my go-to banana bread recipe and I haven’t made any other recipes since I came across this one! I’m a big fan of baking this in a cake pan rather than a loaf pan, it’s not only faster but much more convenient to eat and easier to control the size of the piece you want 🙂 a keeper for sure, thank you!
Allison
Thanks for the kind review, Sarah. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Happy baking! 🙂
Rachel
Delicious!! 🤤😋
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to comment.
ENRIQUE
This recipe was fast easy and so delicious!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂