Description
This Moist Banana Bread Recipe is a classic, tender loaf bursting with natural banana flavor and a hint of cinnamon. Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack, this easy-to-make bread combines rich brown sugar and creamy butter for wonderful moistness and a light crumb. With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, it’s a delicious way to use up ripe bananas.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened (or substitute vegetable oil)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ⅓ cups mashed bananas (about 4 small bananas)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour an 8×4-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mash Bananas: Using a fork, mash the bananas until you have 1 ⅓ cups of smooth mashed bananas. Set aside.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set this mixture aside for later.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Use a hand mixer on medium speed to cream them until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.
- Incorporate Bananas: Stir the mashed bananas into the wet mixture until evenly combined.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Add the dry ingredient mixture to the banana mixture. Stir gently just until combined—avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
- Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Keep an eye to avoid overbaking.
- Cool: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then remove it from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Use overripe bananas with brown spots for the best natural sweetness and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding the dry ingredients to maintain a tender crumb.
- Check the bread at 45 minutes to avoid overbaking; baking times can vary by oven.
- You can substitute the butter with equal amounts of vegetable oil for a different texture.
- For a nutty twist, add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Bread, Snack, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 70g)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: banana bread, moist banana bread, easy banana bread, homemade banana bread, cinnamon banana bread, quick bread
