Outside this recipe, I’ve made some pretty awful banana bread—too moist, too dry, or just plain weird. With it, I get a perfectly balanced loaf that’s consistent every time.

You can also use it to make excellent banana muffins. Like my apple cake recipe, this one makes a great snack, breakfast, and dessert.

My Favourite Banana Bread Recipe

close up of banana bread with moist texturePrep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 55-65 minutes

Total Time: approximately 1hr and 15 minutes

Makes: 1 loaf, 12 muffins, or 6 mini loaves

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
  • 3 large ripe or frozen bananas (the latter adds moisture)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Grease loaf pan with margarine or butter.
  3. Melt the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
  4. Add the bananas to the melted and mash them.
  5. Mix in eggs and vanilla, stirring until no yellow streaks of egg are present.
  6. In a separate large bowl, combine the dry ingredients—flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55-65 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Depending on your oven, you may need extra time.

Alternatives

Banana Bread Muffins

Follow the same directions as above, pour the batter into a greased muffin tin and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Mini Banana Bread Loaves

Pour the batter into a greased, 6-mini-loaf pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Fold 1 cup of semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips into the batter before pouring into the pan or tin.

Banana Bread with Walnuts

Fold 1 cup of walnuts into the batter before pouring into the pan or tin.

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This is my absolute favourite banana bread recipe and subsequently my favourite for banana muffins. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out.

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I adapted this recipe from one at The Salty Marshmallow.