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 brown sugar (or 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!
Marcia Hendrie
The house smells amazing, I made muffins and threw in 1/3 cup of chocolate chips. Left the brown sugar off the top. Thought our grandsons would like them. Loved the ease at making them.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Valerie
My go to moist easy nana bread recipe. Very consistent results
Allison
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Mayra A
This is an amazing Recipe and I’ve made it about 3 times however on the third try I doubled the recipe and doubled the cook time in the oven and for some reason it came out dry would you happen to know what went wrong
Allison
Did you bake it in a larger pan? What size was it?
Chris
Thanks so much for providing information on cooking times for various pan sizes!!! Super helpful.
Allison
You’re welcome. 🙂
Elisabeth
I used a 9×2 in. round cake pan I think the bottom was 9×9, and I cooked it for about 20-25 minutes. I thought it was based on the side and top, but when I stuck a knife and pulled some bread from the middle it was raw… I ended up cooking it for about 19 minutes and leaving it in with the oven off. How long should I put in the oven next time?
Allison
Hi! A 9-inch round is actually smaller than a 9×9. I’m not sure on the bake time as that pan is smaller than what I typically use. I have four different pan sizes in the recipe card (with bake times for each), if you want to try one of those options.
APRIL SHaw
Was perfect!! I also put brown sugar on pan before the batter. Everyone loved it
Allison
Oh! Good idea! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Cathy Pattengale
OMG this is soooo easy and amazing! People at church love it. It is my go to food item gift when someone at church is recovering from surgery or Covid. I keep very ripe frozen bananas on hand so I can make it anytime.
Have you ever made little loaves? Like in a 3 x 5 1/2 inch pan? I want to make little loaves for our church bake sale and didnt know how to adjust the bake time.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. I’m not sure about the bake time. Maybe start checking around 25 minutes, then every 5 minutes or so until baked through.
Nora
Oh my lort!!! this is amazing ❤️ I didn’t have vanilla so I subbed with vanilla bean pumpkin skinny syrup and it what delicious 🤤 thank you for this great and user friendly recipe ❤️
Allison
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Ann Brooke
Just made the banana bread and it was too yummy – right out of the oven. I couldn’t wait – it smelled so good.
Allison
Glad you enjoyed it!
E H
After making this I can never go back to “regular” banana bread. I end up eating way more than I should. So good! Do you have any recommendations for making this dairy free? My husband can’t have dairy, and he’s had to watch the rest of us inhale this banana bread. I’d love for him to be able to eat this with us. I have sticks of vegan butter I may try.
Allison
I’d recommend vegan butter or maybe even coconut oil? Best of luck playing around with it. Glad you enjoyed it!
Sam Rizzo
Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe! My dad is a cancer patient and doesn’t have a very strong appetite anymore but he loves when I make this recipe and for the minimal work it takes, it’s so easy to make multiple loaves without getting stuck in the kitchen for hours or fussing to get the recipe just right.
Allison
Thank you for the kind review. Sending well wishes to your dad.