This easy banana bread recipe is soft, moist, and simple to make with ripe bananas and pantry ingredients. It's a reliable homemade banana bread that works well for breakfast, snacking, or using up overripe bananas.
Why You'll Love It
- Easy to Make: A simple banana bread recipe that comes together quickly with basic ingredients.
- Soft and Moist: The texture stays tender and moist, even after a couple of days.
- Great for Overripe Bananas: A perfect way to use bananas that are too soft to eat.
- Flexible: Works well plain or with additions like chocolate chips or nuts.
There was always a bowl of bananas on the counter when I was growing up, and it was almost guaranteed that a few would turn too soft to eat. Instead of throwing them away, we would mash them and turn them into banana bread. The smell of it baking would fill the whole kitchen, and we'd end up slicing it while it was still slightly warm. That habit stayed with me, and now it's one of the first things I make when I see overripe bananas sitting on the counter. If you enjoy simple bakes made with everyday ingredients, recipes like banana oatmeal chocolate chip muffins, flourless chocolate cake, and chocolate mug cake are always worth keeping on rotation, too.
This moist banana bread recipe keeps things simple, which is one of the reasons I like it so much. It's a banana bread recipe with ripe bananas that comes together easily, and it also works well as a banana bread without mixer. The brown sugar and melted butter help create a soft, tender crumb, and the loaf stays moist for days without feeling too heavy.
Key Ingredients for Banana Bread
You'll find the exact measurements in the recipe card, but here's a closer look at key ingredients and why I use them.
- Bananas, Butter & Sugar: I use very ripe bananas with brown spots because they bring natural sweetness and moisture. Melted butter and brown sugar help create a soft texture and a deeper flavor.
- Eggs & Vanilla: Eggs help bind everything together, and I like adding vanilla extract for a warm, balanced flavor.
- Flour & Baking Soda: All-purpose flour gives structure, while baking soda helps the loaf rise properly.
- Salt & Cinnamon: A little salt balances the sweetness, and cinnamon adds a subtle warmth that works well with the bananas.
How to Make Banana Bread
You can find the complete printable recipe with measurements below, but for now, here's a quick overview of how it goes:
1. In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth, leaving small lumps for texture if you like.
2. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas. Then add the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together.
4. Gently stir the dry mixture into the wet until just combined. It's okay if there are a few lumps; avoid overmixing.
5. Pour the batter into the parchment-lined 9x5-inch (23x12.7 cm) loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (347°F) or 155°C (311°F) for fan-assisted, for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Take the banana bread out of the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then move it to a wire rack to cool fully.
8. Let the banana bread cool, then slice and enjoy! It's delicious plain or with butter.
My Tips for Moist Banana Bread
Check the Center Properly: I like to insert the toothpick slightly off-center instead of right in the middle, because that's where banana bread tends to stay underbaked the longest.
Let the Batter Rest Briefly: Sometimes I let the batter sit for 5-10 minutes before baking. It helps the flour hydrate and gives a more even texture.
Adjust Baking Time to Your Pan: If I use a slightly smaller or deeper loaf pan, I expect the baking time to increase a bit, so I always start checking early, but don't rush it.
Slice with a Clean, Smooth Cut: I wait until the loaf is fully cooled and use a gentle motion when slicing so the crumb stays neat instead of crumbling.
Storage
Once cooled, I keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week. It also freezes well sliced.
Try These Banana Recipes Next!
Recipe
Easy Moist Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas - mashed
- 80 g unsalted butter - melted
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 100 g light brown sugar
- 2 medium eggs - room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200 g all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth, leaving a few small lumps if you like. Add the melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract, and mix until fully combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared 9x5-inch (23x12.7 cm) loaf pan lined with parchment paper, and smooth the top with a spatula.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
I followed the recipe to a T and it turned out amazing. The texture is perfect, and it's not too sweet. Highly recommend!"
"I added chocolate chips to this recipe.