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March 4, 2019 By Katie 49 Comments

The Easiest Banana Bread

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One bowl, no mixer, no weird ingredients, pure banana flavor, and a perfectly plush, soft texture: my favorite recipe for banana bread also happens to be the easiest banana bread recipe I’ve ever made.

The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!

I’ve made a lot of banana bread in my time.  You probably have too.

If that’s true, then you know how surprisingly elusive a truly amazing banana bread can be.

Sometimes they’re too sweet. Sometimes they’re over-mixed and tough. Sometimes they’re heavy, or worse, greasy. Sometimes they have unmashed chunks of banana in the batter (gross). Sometimes they lack sufficient fat and have a nasty gummy texture. Sometimes they’re just plain bland.

You get the idea.

The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!

The other issue is that many banana bread recipes are overly complicated. Do a google search for “banana bread” and you’ll find many recipes claiming to be “the best” or “award-winning”, but not many claiming to be easy.

The thing about banana bread is, it’s a humble breakfast bread (or dessert bread; you may already know this, but it’s amazing warm with vanilla ice cream). It’s not trying to be a frosted cake or a perfectly shaped pastry. Banana bread is supposed to be homey and comforting. It’s supposed to be simple and easy, something you can make on a weeknight without ruining your kitchen or staying up all night.

And above all, it’s supposed to be soft, sweet, and reliably delicious.

The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!

I do have a chocolate chip banana bread recipe on here already, but I’ve always been just a little unhappy with it. Always felt that while it was good, it could be just a little bit better.

So I set out to create the ultimate, go-to, never-fail, easiest banana bread recipe out there.

The banana bread that doesn’t require multiple bowls, a mixer, creaming of butter and sugar, browning of butter, swirling of multiple batters, or the making of streusels.

The banana bread that does involve only one bowl, a few simple ingredients that most people have on hand, and about an hour in total including baking time.

The banana bread that, despite its ease of making, totally delivers on taste and texture: just sweet enough, but not overpowering; soft, but not gooey; densely crumbed, but not heavy; structured, but not tough. A complex, yet purely banana flavor, not encumbered by any other distraction.

This is my masterpiece.

The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!

I’ll be honest, it took me about 3 years to perfect. This was no small task.

But it makes this victory all the sweeter.

I really got into this project in earnest after I asked you all on Instagram what your essential banana bread ingredients were. You had a lot of great ideas and I knew I had to synthesize them into the very best, easiest banana bread recipe I could create!

In the process of developing this recipe, I read and experimented with a LOT of banana bread recipes. Over time, I narrowed down a set of criteria that I believe make for the most successful banana bread. Some of this comes down to taste, and some to science – which we all know are interrelated when it comes to baking!

The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!

Tips for success with the easiest banana bread:

  • Use extremely overripe bananas and mash them REALLY thoroughly. I routinely use bananas that have gone completely brown because their flavor is at their sweetest and most concentrated. It makes for the best banana flavor in the final product. Mash the heck out of the bananas and get them as smooth as possible for the best texture in your bread. This is much easier with very ripe bananas; I use a fork but you could also use a potato masher.
  • Use melted butter for flavor and moisture. There’s nothing quite like the flavor of butter, and in order to make this as easy as possible (i.e. no creaming), we’ll use melted butter. It just adds to the moisture of the overall product. If you don’t have or don’t want to use butter, however, you can use olive oil or coconut oil as a 1:1 replacement.
  • Use a mixture of brown and white sugars. Some recipes call for one or the other, but I find the flavor and texture to be best when you use half granulated (for sweetness) and half brown sugar (for moisture and softness).
  • Use full fat plain yogurt or sour cream for the best texture and flavor. You need to use this for a few reasons: (i) the acidic yogurt/sour cream reacts with the baking soda (a base) to produce the best rise; (ii) the slight sourness offsets the sweetness of the bananas, producing superior flavor; (iii) it yields the softest final product and allows us to cut back a bit on the butter.
  • Stir the flour in only until JUST combined. I’ve talked about this before, but over-mixing a tender product like banana bread will develop too much gluten and yield a tough bread. Just stir until there are no longer pockets of flour, then stop. Preferably, stir with a fork or a spatula so you have maximum control.
  • Sprinkle sugar on top of the batter before baking. Ideally, use turbinado or raw sugar, but regular granulated works too. You only need about a tablespoon. This yields a shattering, crispy crust on the top as the sugar caramelizes during baking, and it makes a good banana bread into an excellent banana bread.
The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!

So, there you have it. I did all the experimenting so you don’t have to. I hope you try this recipe and love it as much as I do! Please let me know what you think if you try it!

The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!
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4.65 from 14 votes

The Easiest Banana Bread

One bowl, no mixer, no weird ingredients, pure banana flavor, and a perfectly plush, soft texture: my favorite recipe for banana bread also happens to be the easiest banana bread recipe I’ve ever made.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Keyword: banana bread, easy, quick bread
Servings: 1 loaf (about 12 slices)
Author: katiebirdbakes.com

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (4 tbsp or 1/2 a stick)
  • 3 overripe bananas
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup plain, full-fat yogurt or sour cream (Greek yogurt works too)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar (or additional granulated sugar, for sprinkling on top of the batter)

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Generously grease an 8.5 x 4.5″ or 9 x 5″ loaf pan and set aside.
  • In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.  Add the bananas to the bowl and mash them very thoroughly into the melted butter until completely smooth, using a fork or potato masher.  
  • Whisk in the granulated sugar and brown sugar until well-combined.  Add the eggs, one at a time, and whisk in each until well-combined.  Add the yogurt, vanilla, salt, and baking soda to the mixture and stir until thoroughly combined and smooth.
  • Add the flour all at once and stir with a fork or a spatula until a batter just comes together and no big flour pockets remain.  Do not over-mix!
  • Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it out.  Sprinkle the additional tablespoon of turbinado or granulated sugar evenly over top.  Bake for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean or with just a couple crumbs attached.
  • Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely (if you can stand to wait that long).

Notes

If you want to add in chocolate chips or chopped nuts, fold in about 1/2 cup of them just before scraping batter into the pan.
 
Banana bread will keep, well-wrapped in foil on the counter, for about 3 days.  It will also keep up to a week in the fridge, and up to 3 months in the freezer.  I like to wrap individual slices in foil and keep them in the freezer in a freezer storage bag to defrost whenever I want some.

Like this recipe?  Please rate it and leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @katiebirdbakes, and sign up for my email list to receive my recipes straight to your inbox every time I post!

The Easiest Banana Bread - one bowl, no mixer!

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Filed Under: Bread, Breakfast, Dessert, Healthy, Quick Breads, Recipes

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Comments

  1. Dimple says

    February 9, 2021 at 11:43 am

    I am vegan so can you tell what can be Substitue of egg

    Reply
    • Katie says

      February 9, 2021 at 3:36 pm

      You can use a flax egg, chia egg, or a commercial egg replacer!

      Reply
  2. Nancy Carneal says

    January 28, 2021 at 12:05 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this bread several times and absolutely love how easy it is to follow. It tastes amazing! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 29, 2021 at 10:29 am

      Thank you Nancy! It’s a favorite around here!

      Reply
  3. Jane says

    January 20, 2021 at 7:28 am

    5 stars
    PS,I used creme fraiche as that’s what I had in the fridge 🤭

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 29, 2021 at 10:30 am

      Glad to know creme fraiche works! Thank you!

      Reply
  4. Jane says

    January 20, 2021 at 7:24 am

    5 stars
    Haven’t baked a cake for years,this turned out perfect and is so delicious and best of all so easy 😊

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 29, 2021 at 10:29 am

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you Jane!

      Reply
  5. Cheyenne says

    January 13, 2021 at 9:28 pm

    Could I make this in muffin trays

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 14, 2021 at 10:34 am

      Hi Cheyenne – yes, this recipe will make about 12 muffins. Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes, they are done when a tester in the middle comes out clean!

      Reply
  6. Jane says

    January 3, 2021 at 7:47 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best banana bread recipe ever! It’s so easy and the loaf turns out moist, light and irresistible! I’ve started to memorize this recipe because I made it so many times.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 5, 2021 at 11:41 pm

      Thank you so much, Jane!! I know the recipe by heart at this point too 😉

      Reply
  7. Deborah says

    December 20, 2020 at 6:21 am

    5 stars
    I made your banana bread yesterday and it was delicious! Very moist and just the right amount of sweetness. That little bit of sugar on top gives it a nice finishing touch. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      December 20, 2020 at 10:26 pm

      Thank you Deborah! I love the sugar crunch on top too 🙂

      Reply
  8. Diane says

    December 7, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best banana bread recipe i’ve made. Its pretty close to starbucks banana bread, which i love. Very moist. I even did 1/2 whole wheat flour 1/2 all purpose flour. the texture was perfect. Next time i will reduce the sugar though, i like my banana bread not as sweet.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      December 13, 2020 at 11:42 pm

      Thank you Diane – great to know the 1/2 whole wheat sub worked for you! I’ve also subbed in 1/2 cup oat flour for 1/2 cup of the all-purpose and the texture has been great. Glad you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply
  9. melissa says

    September 5, 2020 at 1:33 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! This was so good! Slightly crispy on the outside and so moist and delicious on the inside. I didn’t feel like creaming butter and sugar as my family’s standby recipe called for and I wasn’t sure melted butter would produce the same moist and fluffy texture. It was perfect, though! So easy.

    Reply
  10. Cindy says

    August 9, 2020 at 12:34 pm

    2 stars
    Hi ! I followed your recipe but the cake turned out sticky and gluey after baking for 45 mins. I put it to bake further 15 mins but it still doesn’t have the texture of a bread/cake. The taste is good though. Any idea if it still can be eaten? And do you know what might have gone wrong? Is it because there is not enough flour?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      August 12, 2020 at 9:35 pm

      Hi Cindy – sorry to hear that. Sounds like there wasn’t enough flour. Are you sure you put in 1.5 cups? The bread should not be gluey, but it is moist.

      Reply
  11. Hannah Flack says

    June 11, 2020 at 11:53 pm

    5 stars
    “This was great! Really enjoyed it – thanks for sharing. I do agree with another commenter who said it was a bit sweet – I will definitely reduce the sugar next time (I used regular granulated sugar).

    Can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow! :)”

    Reply
    • Katie says

      June 14, 2020 at 10:41 am

      Thank you Hannah!

      Reply
  12. Lady Tee says

    May 8, 2020 at 4:30 am

    5 stars
    If I want to make 2 of these at a time do I just double the recipe? Or make 2 separate batches?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 9, 2020 at 10:10 pm

      I would make two separate batches! The batter would turn out differently if doubled in the same bowl I think.

      Reply
  13. Naomi T says

    May 7, 2020 at 12:12 am

    3 stars
    I love the tip of putting sugar on the top to get that crusty edge on the loaf – so great both taste-wise and texture-wise. This could have been an issue with my oven or subbing gluten free flour (or just the moistness from bananas), but this loaf wouldn’t bake fully through for me and I remember keeping it in for longer than the suggested time. Either way, I enjoyed it but next time I’d probably try to bake the recipe in muffin tins and adjust the time accordingly.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 7, 2020 at 6:05 pm

      Baking in muffin tins sounds like a great idea – I’ve never had an issue with this banana bread not baking all the way through, but the GF flour could have something to do with it.

      Reply
  14. Lady Tee says

    May 3, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    I tried this recipe and it was super easy to follow compared to the other recipe I tried and this was my second go at making banana bread and it came out amazing! This is my go to recipe now. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 5, 2020 at 3:35 pm

      Yay! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  15. Sofia says

    March 28, 2020 at 10:39 am

    Hi! Can I make using 8×8 tray?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      April 2, 2020 at 11:19 pm

      Yes – I would start with 30 minutes bake time and keep checking until a toothpick comes out clean!

      Reply
  16. Lina says

    January 18, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    The 1/4 cup of butter that is the amount before melting it?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 19, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      Yes 🙂

      Reply
  17. Peg says

    December 6, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    Hi Katie,
    Can I make this keto by using almond flour and erythritol?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Katie says

      December 10, 2019 at 9:32 am

      Hi Peg – Unfortunately I have not tried that so I can’t vouch for the results. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  18. k in the d says

    November 20, 2019 at 8:20 pm

    5 stars
    your recipes never fail me! this was perfect – only took me 10 minutes to gather the ingredients, measure, mix and pour in the loaf pan. and of course, it is delish. it’s going into the rotation!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      December 1, 2019 at 10:45 pm

      Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed this one!

      Reply
  19. Mel says

    July 26, 2019 at 1:24 pm

    Have you tried a version that works with honey or maple syrup ?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      November 3, 2019 at 11:02 pm

      Hi Mel – I have not, because liquid sweeteners tend to alter the final product so you’d have to substantially modify the recipe – a google search should find something great though!

      Reply
  20. Brittany says

    June 2, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    Is there anything to substitute for the yogurt/sour cream?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      June 2, 2019 at 11:14 pm

      You could use buttermilk – or if you need non-dairy, almond or coconut yogurt would work!

      Reply
  21. Rebecca says

    April 4, 2019 at 5:47 am

    I have celiac disease so no gluten for me!
    Do you think I can substitute regular flour with a 1 to 1 gluten-free flour?
    Thank you!!!!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      April 10, 2019 at 10:21 pm

      Hi Rebecca – yes I do think you can use an all-purpose GF flour like cup4cup or measure for measure. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
      • Lemka says

        October 9, 2019 at 7:13 pm

        Hi Katie, I love this banana bread. My friend has celiac disease and she loves banana bread but couldn’t have it. Can I substitute regular flour with coconut flour and regular sugar with coconut sugar?
        Thank you!

        Reply
        • Katie says

          October 14, 2019 at 10:31 pm

          Hi Lemka – no, coconut flour would not work as a substitution here. It is very absorbent and behaves differently from other flours. I recommend using an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend like Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur Flour GF blends. You may also want to add xanthan gum if the GF blend you use doesn’t contain it – this helps with the rise. Coconut sugar should work though!

          Reply
          • Lemka says

            October 23, 2019 at 9:57 pm

            Thank you so much for your recommendation. I thought coconut flour will work, I am glad I asked!

  22. Savita says

    April 2, 2019 at 9:51 pm

    I love easy recipes and this sounds fantastic! Do you have any recommendations on making these as muffins?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      April 10, 2019 at 10:22 pm

      Sure! I think this would make 12 standard size muffins, same temperature and I would start checking at 18 minutes to see if they’re done!

      Reply
  23. Jo says

    March 29, 2019 at 10:27 am

    5 stars
    This is one amazing recipe. Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve tried many a banana bread recipe from some of the big names and seriously this is the best. The. Best. Definitely going to make an extra loaf to freeze! Thanks Katie!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      April 10, 2019 at 10:25 pm

      Thank you so much, Jo! We love this banana bread and I’m so glad you feel the same way about it as we do 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Katie: attorney by day, baker by night. I'm sharing sophisticated yet approachable recipes to convince you that if you can read, you can bake! Thanks for being here. Read More...

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