Best Banana Bread Recipe 5 Bananas

Put those ripe bananas to use in the best banana bread recipe ever. Moist and delicious, it's easy to make—one bowl, no need for a mixer!

Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.

This banana bread has been the most popular recipe on Simply Recipes for over 10 years. Thousands of people make it every day. Why?

Easy 2 Banana Bread Recipe

Because it really is the best banana bread recipe, period. You can mix everything in one bowl, you can vary the amount of sugar or bananas. And the secret to its great flavor? Melted butter.

The beauty of this banana bread recipe is you don't need a fancy mixer! A mixing bowl, a fork to whisk the eggs, and a sturdy spoon to mix the batter are all you need. The sugar amount is flexible. The original recipe called for a cup of white sugar, but most people, including me, do just fine with 3/4 cup, and many are happy with 1/2 cup.

You can toss in a cup of chopped nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips if you want, or put the batter into muffin tins and make banana nut muffins instead. You can even go a step further and make chocolate banana bread.

The Best Banana Bread Recipe ~sweet & Savory

I was given this banana bread recipe years ago from my friend Heidi H, who, many years before, had begged the recipe from a ski buddy’s mother—Mrs. Hockmeyer. Thanks Heidi!

This recipe calls for an 8- x 4-inch loaf pan, which produces a tall loaf. The recipe will also work in an 8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan, producing a slightly shorter bread. Since the pan is a bit larger, the bake time is shorter: 47 to 57 minutes. A 9- x 5-inch pan will yield an especially short but still delicious bread; bake for 45 to 55 minutes.

This recipe calls for an 8- x 4-inch loaf pan. If you are baking in an 8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch pan, bake for 47 to 57 minutes. If baking in a 9- x 5-inch pan, bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Note that the larger pan size will produce a flatter loaf.

Simply Perfect 2 Banana Banana Bread

The best bananas to use for banana bread are those that are over-ripe. The yellow peels should be at least half browned, and the bananas inside squishy and browning.

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2, 000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Easy Peasy Banana Bread

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Do you ever end up with a bunch of overripe bananas sitting on your counter at the end of the week? Just me?Truth be told, I love bananas but we usually buy too many at the store and then end up with a bunch left over. One of my favorite ways to use up all of those overripe bananas is with this homemade banana bread recipe!

Originally published in 2018, I’ve updated this post with a lot more information and step photos to help you along the way. Not only is this the best banana bread recipe you’ll ever try, but it’s also:

Easy Banana Bread Recipe {deliciously Moist!}

To make this banana bread, you’ll start by mixing together the wet ingredients, then the dry ingredients, then you’ll combine the two. Here’s a quick breakdown on exactly how to prepare the batter:

Once the batter is ready, spray a 9×5 loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. The parchment paper is completely optional, but it will make it much easier to remove the bread from the pan.

Then, scoop the batter into the prepared pan and place it in the oven for about one hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. I like to let my bread cool in the pan once it’s done for about 20 minutes, then remove it from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack.

Healthy Banana Bread {best Ever!}

The best kind of bananas for this recipe are ones that are overripe with a lot of speckles. If your bananas are still green or just yellow, then I suggest waiting a little longer.

If you need to speed up the process and ripen your bananas quicker, simply place them in a brown paper bag for 1-3 days. The ethylene gas will build up in the bag and circulate around the bananas, speeding up the ripening process.

You can store this banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. While it’s not necessary to store banana bread in the refrigerator, it will help it stay fresh a little longer. If you need to store it a couple days longer then I suggest storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Moist Banana Bread

Yes, absolutely! To freeze the the loaf: Wrap the loaf tightly with plastic wrap and store it in a freezer bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, place it on the counter for several hours or overnight so that it can come to room temperature.

To freeze individual slices: Slice the bread and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place the baking sheet in the freezer for a couple of hours or until the slices are frozen. Place the frozen slices in a freezer bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can thaw individual slices to room temperature or reheat frozen slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time or until warmed through.

To freeze the the loaf: Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and store in a freezer bag or container in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, place it on the counter for several hours or overnight so that it can come to room temperature.

Simply The Best Banana Bread Recipe

To freeze individual slices: Place the slices of bread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then place the baking sheet in the freezer for a couple of hours or until the slices are frozen. Place the frozen slices in a freezer bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw individual slices to room temperature or reheat frozen slices in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until warmed through.

Eggs: Room temperature eggs are best as they will disperse more evenly into the batter. To bring your eggs to room temperature quickly, place them in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes.

Bananas: The riper the bananas, the better! You’ll need about 4 large bananas or 5 medium bananas to get 2 cups of mashed banana.Sometimes I get frustrated by the constant mess in my house and get on my kids’ case about helping out, putting things where they belong, etc. Then I notice my one-year-old puts his milk cup back in the fridge and brings his empty snack bowl to the dishwasher, and I wonder where all the mess is really coming from.

Banana Bread Recipe {with Video!}

I’ve realized the major mess makers are actually the older ones. They’re getting to the age where they notice (and point out) every little thing Carl or I leaves lying around, and somehow think that justifies their doing the same thing.  I was trained early on to be pretty obsessive about putting things where they belong,  but Carl has yet to figure out the purpose of a shoe rack or the hangers in the bedroom closet, so we’re fighting a bit of an uphill battle.

When things get messy in the bedrooms, playroom, living room, and basement, sometimes I don’t feel like nagging anyone (or doing it myself), so instead I go to the kitchen and bake. My work space  is one area the kids know better than to clutter up with toys, so the floor between the island and the counter is almost guaranteed to be completely free of toys.

This baking escape is lately a little limited by issues of storage space and stomach capacity. My freezer is packed with the gorgeous bounty of summer – zucchini and rhubarb baking of all kinds, peach crumbles and frozen peaches,

I Tested Our 5 Most Popular Banana Bread Recipes And There Was One Clear Winner