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!
Noreen
This is in the oven and the house smell s so good! I was looking for an easy, one bowl recipe and this was perfect. And the fact that you used a 9×9 pan – great! Looking forward to dessert tonight! Thanks for an easy recipe.
Celebrating Sweets
I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Chelsea
I found this recipe about a month ago and I’ve made it AT LEAST 5 times since then! I absolutely LOVE it, my family loves it and so do my friends. It’s so easy to make, I was a bit skeptical the 1st time because it sounded “too easy” and I thought “this is too good to be true” but I’ll try it anyway….OMG I’m SOOO glad I did. It’s so delicious, it’s moist and tasty and I LOVE the crunchy brown sugar topping. I’ll NEVER make another banana bread recipe, so thank you! I have actually found myself buying extra bananas lately just so I have an excuse to make this LOL
I highly recommend this recipe to everyone! Again, thank you!!!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
christina
Can you use salted butter
Celebrating Sweets
Sure! You can reduce the salt a bit in the batter (maybe by half). Enjoy!
Marcy
It’s in the oven…smells sooooooo good!
Celebrating Sweets
Yay! Enjoy!
Lisa
Absolutely delicious!!!! My fiancé and I enjoyed this recipe so much! It was so simple yet so amazing. We used a loaf pan and it still came out perfect!! You have two fans for life!! We can’t wait to explore your website and try your recipes! Thank you for your recipe!!!
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Lisa! Thanks for the kind review. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it. 🙂 -Allison
Nina Hight
This is the best recipe ever to use up those over ripe bananas. I add 1/3 cup of mini chocolate chips to the batter & chopped nuts, of choice to the brown sugar on top.. I bake it in a 9 X 13 pan for about 40 minutes. My husband raves about it every time I make it which is often. Thankyou for a great recipe!!
Celebrating Sweets
You’re very welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Shirley
Can self rising flour be used successfully, leaving off the baking soda and salt? I never keep plain flour.
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Shirley. You’re welcome to try, but I can’t say for sure that it will work. My recipe uses baking soda and self rising flour typically contains baking powder. Best of luck playing around with it.
Vivian Vega
I used a log pan because I don’t have a 9×9 square pan and I was worried about the amount overflowing. It didn’t! And it is incredibly easy. I increased the booking time, as suggested, and am looking at it in the oven now. The house already smells so good!
Vivian Vega
I meant loaf pan ?
Celebrating Sweets
I hope you enjoyed it! 🙂
Breanna Bates
My husband and I absolutely love this recipe!
Not once have I experienced this bread dry out anywhere. We especially love the brown sugar sprinkled ontop once it has melted ?
Easy Banana Bread.. 10/10!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks for the kind review. I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
Dipti
Hey, I just made the bread and it came out fabulous. I ran out of all purpose flour and made the entire thing with whole wheat and it was still soft and moist. Added a pinch of cinnamon but couldn’t taste it. I did sprinkle brown sugar on top but couldn’t notice any particular texture change on the top. But nevertheless loved the taste and its really easy and quick.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing your changes, I’m glad it worked out. 🙂 Enjoy!