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!
Minya
Turned out fantastic on my first try! I was looking for a recipe that works in a regular pan since that’s all I have with me right now.
I have an 8×8 pan and was converting all the measurements to the metric system since that’s what I’m used to. So if anyone’s wondering, if you use a cup of about 175ml and slightly adjust all the other ingredients, that reduces the baking time to about 20-25 minutes!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Shawnae
I’ve already made this very delicious Banana Bread twice already, and it is the bomb dot com!! I love the brown sugar on top which gives the bread that extra burst of sweetness, as well as not taking about an hour to bake in the oven. The second time I made the Banana Bread, I added semi sweet chocolate chips which took this bread to a whole new level. This is now my go to Banana Bread recipe. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Kate
Make lots of different varieties of banana bread so this was a treat for those who rather have cake like look. I added 1/2 toffee bits to mine.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂
Shamaila
This banana bread is amazing! I made it last night and what a delight! It is hands down the best banana bread I have ever had! I followed the recipe exactly as printed using the 9 x 9 pan and it turned out exactly the same. The brown sugar sprinkled on top gives it a delicious crunch and added flavor. I love it! Thank you for sharing! This will be definitely be my go too recipe in future. It’s so much quicker and easier to bake and cooked far easier too. Normally in the past my banana bread has always been overcooked or undercooked and never consistent.
Thanks again!!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Blanca gonzalez
Amazing . Highly recommend.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Natasha
This was absolutely delicious! I made it in an 8×8 and 35 minutes was perfect. My husband has already requested I make it again when we finish the current batch. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Celebrating Sweets
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Shirley
Fabulous recipe. I put in 2 bananas and about 1/4 cup of applesauce and about 2 table. of flour because the applesauce was a little runny. I sprinkled demerara sugar on top. As soon as it was out of the oven I had to taste it. YUMMY!!!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Cristel
This recipe is amazing ?
My whole family loved it.
Thank you so much ❤️
Will definitely be making it more often.
Kind regards all the way from Aruba.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so glad! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Nina
Hi! This is my second time making banana bread and last time I used a recipe that did not turn out right. It tasted fine but it was dense and wet and not the most fun to eat. Last night I used this recipe and my banana bread is more than perfect. It’s light and delicious. The brown sugar on top is an amazing add. I baked in an 8×8 pan for 40min. No more no less, came out perfect! Last time I had a lot of issues with baking and kept putting it back in the oven. This time I was one and done 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing this absolutely perfect recipe.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Kelsey
Thanks for the recipe (: love the idea to sprinkle some brown sugar on top! It’s in the oven now, can’t wait to try it.
Celebrating Sweets
You’re welcome! Enjoy! 🙂