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!
Lindsey
I love this recipe!! I didn’t have eggs so I substituted them for sour cream at 1 1/2 tablespoons for every 1 egg. I also used granulated sugar instead of brown sugar in the bread, but I used the brown sugar on top. I used a loaf pan and cooked it for 45 minutes and it was perfect!! I will definitely be using this recipe again!!
Allison
Thanks for sharing your changes. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Melanie Sanchez
I made your banana bread today an it turned out great- really moist. I added a few chopped wanuts an it tasted just great!
Allison
I’m so glad! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Mama Bear
Yummy. I laid out all the ingredients and let my two year old help peel and mash the bananas, pour the ingredients in the bowl, crack the eggs (wash hands after), and stir. He enjoyed it.
Spongey but most. Had to bake five min. longer. The bread part wasn’t too sweet, but the brown sugar on top added the extra punch of sweetness. 10/10 recommend.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂
Bari
This was easy to make I love not having to use a mixer will definitely make again deliciousness especially with the brown sugar topping and I like the idea of a cake pan.???
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Christina
Finally a good banana cake bread recipe. I forgot to put walnuts lol Will use again for sure thank you also made a few pancakes.
Jayne Rosi
This recipe was delicious!! I made it this morning but after I started I realized I didn’t have baking soda. Looked online for an alternate to baking soda. It said 3 times the amount of baking power is a good switch so had to do that. It was absolutely delicious. I will keep this recipe always. I also threw in some choc chips!!!! Thank you!
Allison
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Jessica M.
This banana bread is amazing! I made it exactly as instructed but added a little cinnamon and about a cup of walnuts. I only had an 8×8 square pan so it was very helpful to see the additional notes on baking time for this size. I also added the optional brown sugar on top. It came out moist, flavorful and so delicious. I will definitely be making this again!
Allison
Thanks for the kind review, Jessica. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Melanie G Sanchez
I made this very quick banana bread and it is very moist and delicious–my family could nit believe that ut only took 30 minutes! I am making it again it was so delicious!
Allison
I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Candice
Looked at my fruit bowl wayyy to late and realized my bananas were to ripe to eat out of the peel so I went to google and looked up banana bread. This was the best looking and easiest recipe I could find and MANNNN IS IT DELICIOUS! Thank goodness my husband doesn’t like bananas so I don’t have to share!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Candice. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. 🙂
Margarita
It’s delicious! Very moist and fluffy.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Vicki
I made muffins with this recipe and oh my word, they were delicious. This is really the best and easiest banana bread recipe I’ve used. I’m making today two pans of muffins. Thank you for sharing.
Allison
You’re welcome! 🙂