To make banana bread, follow these general steps based on popular recipes:
Ingredients
- Ripe bananas (usually 3-4, mashed)
- All-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon)
- Salt (about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon)
- Butter (1/2 cup or 1 stick, softened or melted)
- Brown sugar (about 1/2 cup)
- Eggs (2 large)
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
- Optional: cinnamon, nuts (walnuts or pecans), chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
- Mix dry ingredients : In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and optional cinnamon.
- Mash bananas : In a separate large bowl, mash ripe bananas until smooth.
- Combine wet ingredients : Add softened or melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients : Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Add mix-ins (optional): Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if desired.
- Bake : Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
- Cool : Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Tips for Moist Banana Bread
- Use fully ripe bananas for the best flavor and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread tender.
- Some recipes add yogurt or sour cream to increase moisture if bananas are less ripe
This method produces a moist, flavorful banana bread with a tender crumb and can be customized with nuts or chocolate chips to taste.
