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!
Lara
SO good! The little sprinkle of brown sugar on the top – and on the bottom before the batter goes in – makes this recipe extra delicious. I loved the 9×9 pan – sliced perfectly into 24, 3-bite slices. Yummy!! Oven time for me – just about 25 minutes.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Billie
This is the BEST Banana Nut Bread I have ever had. Delicious. I have made it quite a few times and it always turns out yummy. Thank you for this recipe.
Allison
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Tabby
I love this recipe. Instead of using light brown sugar, I use a third cup of each light and dark and sprinkle dark on the top. It gives it a richer taste. Next time I make this I’m going to use one user’s suggestion and try sprinkling sugar on the bottom, too.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙂
mia koob
could you by chance convert the recipe into metric units? in would love to try!
Angela Holtzclaw
Very delicious 😋
Allison
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Bernadette Hill
I have made this several times!
Best tasting and love how quick I can bake this in a 9×9.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by!
Jenny
This is hands down the best banana bread I have ever made or eaten. I followed the recipe exactly. My four bananas were frozen and mashed into the batter. I poured into a 9×9 greased pan and baked for at 350 for 30 minutes. The brown chocolate melted and crisped perfectly on top. I cut it into 16 squares and ate with butter and left over cream cheese icing I had from a few days ago. Usually I would put walnuts in banana bread but didn’t have any. They were perfect the way they are.
Allison
Thanks for the kind review, Jenny. 🙂
Madaline
Best banana bread ever! It’s my go to from now on
Allison
Yay! I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Britney Wallace
Best banana bread I’ve ever made. It’s very moist.
Allison
I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Becky
I’m about to make this! I would like to add oatmeal to the recipe, what would I need to do differently? Today is my son’s 24th birthday and this was his request! Thank you in advance!~Becky
Allison
I’ve only made the recipe as written.