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).
SUBSCRIBE to our free NEWSLETTER – Follow on INSTAGRAM
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!
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! 🙂
Tricia
This is my favorite banana bread recipe. So moist and delicious!!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Tricia! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂