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.
If you asked me what I bake most often, the answer would undoubtedly be banana bread. It took me years, and dozens of recipes, before I found the one that I’m sharing here. It became an immediate reader favorite and family staple.
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. HERE IT IS!
This recipe is also the base for our Banana Nut Muffins and our Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.
Jump to:
What makes this recipe the best
- 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.
- 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 – 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.
Recipe overview
*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 that you 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.
Healthier options
Prefer your Banana Bread on the healthier side? 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.
- Reduce the melted butter/oil to 6 tablespoons.
- Swap ¾ 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.
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).
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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!
Dana
This cake out perfect !
I used the 8 x 8 pan and added walnuts and cinnamon.
Thank you for a truly easy recipe !!
Dana
Meant “This came” out perfect
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Sarah
Soooo Delicious & decadent!
Perfect for holiday gift giving(& eating)! Thanks for the awesome recipe!!!!
Btw: I too ran out of brown sugar while making several batches. It turned out awesome according to my California family I gifted it to! I just added cinnamon sugar as a topping and I’m the batter to make up for not having brown sugar!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Carol
How do I adjust for high altitude?
Celebrating Sweets
Hi! I don’t have any experience with high altitude baking, but you can try using this resource: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn/resources/high-altitude-baking
Charity
I loved the outcome ?
Would you know how many kgs the mixture yielded?
jessica
I found this recipe by searching the brownie pan because I don’t own a loaf pan. My 3 year old LOVED helping me load up everything in the bowl. We had a blast and the bread was delicious, the family ate it all!!! 🙂
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Yoshi
This recipe is utter perfection! Changed nothing but added a tbsp of cinnamon (& accidental 1 tsp of salt instead of 1/4 as stated) and a few thin slices of bananas on the top.
I baked this batter in a dark metal bundt pan at 350° for 50 minutes.
It was so delicious and my apartment smelled so good while it was baking. The brown sugar on top (is absolute genius) made this bread so mouth-watering and crunchy/caramelized. It was a great substitute for the crunch you would get from nuts but I couldn’t add because some people had allergies.
Writing this recipe down and putting it on my fridge so I can make it again!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Heidi
Can you use applesauce instead of butter?
Celebrating Sweets
I would recommend using at least half of the butter that is called for. You can try swapping half for applesauce, but I wouldn’t do more than that. Without the fat the bread might be tough. Enjoy!
Nolana Martin
I have made this a couple of times and it’s perfect. So flavorful and moist. I won’t use any other recipe.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Nicole
Why rotate the pan? And at what time during I’m using 8 inch
Celebrating Sweets
Rotating the pan helps the bread to bake evenly, some ovens have hotter/cooler spots. I rotate it it about halfway through, so in an 8×8 pan that will be around 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Maria
This is a very good banana bread. Easy to make and perfect outcome. Love the flavors and texture. It didn’t last a day!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it!