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!
Alexa Rae
Made this recipe tonight and decided to add some dark chocolate chips. Amazing recipe. I’m more of a cook and less of a baker. Something about all those measurements worry me but this was so easy to follow and I had everything on hand. Very moist and flavorful. Thanks for sharing!
Celebrating Sweets
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Melissa
Thanks for this great recipe! It’s so easy to make.
Made this 2 days ago for the first time.. .it was GONE overnight. I have another one in the oven now. 🙂
I add cinnamon to the brown sugar in the mix and to the topping. It’s YUMMMMM-EEEE!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you enjoyed, Melissa! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂 -Allison
Patty
I made this today! The only thing different I used was dark brown sugar only because I didn’t have light brown sugar! It sure yummy!!!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Enjoy! -Allison
Britni
I had to come back and tell you THANK YOU SO MUCH for this recipe!! You have no idea how many banana bread recipes I’ve gone through over the years, trying to find the perfect one for the picky family (especially my husband!) I was getting so tired of inconsistent results in the loaf pan and my husband not consistently liking the same recipe the second time cooked. In the past 2 weeks I have made this 4 times, and I have some in the oven as we speak. My husband and the children LOVE this recipe. I will never look for another banana bread recipe again! Thank you for making a staple in the house so delicious!!
Celebrating Sweets
Thank you SO much for the kind review. I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by! -Allison
Gigi Cores
Allison- Wow! My daughter and I are eating this right now. We followed the recipe exactly as is, in an 8×8 pan and cooked for 45 minutes. We did put the 3/4 cup of brown sugar on top and I ate a piece hot out of the oven. DELICIOUS, moist but not soggy, just perfect. Even better when cooled. I am NOT a baker, NOT a chef. I ruin break and bake cookies for heaven’s sake. This was SO EASY. I did have to go to the store because I never have ingredients in the house. Now i have extras and plan to make more of your banana bread for the 4th of July holiday. Thank you so much!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks for the kind review! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. 🙂
Stephanie Sauce
Couldn’t sleep and come to this recipe after looking at the bananas I or anyone else weren’t going to eat. 10 at night and my house smelled like heavens bakery. … definitely loading up on the bananas. Thank you so much. I’m actually still waiting for them to be done. But sure I will love the taste ??
Celebrating Sweets
Haha! I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by.
Kimberly
These were easy and quick to make. I made them in a muffin pan for lunch boxes. They are really delicious, the best i’ve tried. Thanks for the recipe!
Celebrating Sweets
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed them! 🙂
Angela
Perfect banana bread recipe!! Easy, moist and I finally have a reason to be excited that my bananas are over ripe!!
Thank you!!! ?
Celebrating Sweets
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Kimberly
I’d like to substitute coconut flour, but I’m not sure of the ratio ?
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Kimberly. That will be a bit tricky. You can’t do an even swap because the properties are completely different than wheat flour. You can try using this guide to play around with it: https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/recipes/how-to-cook-with-organic-coconut-flour-substitutions-tips-strategies/
Jenece
This was the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever tried! Delicious.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Enjoy! 🙂 -Allison