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Breakfast & Brunch | April 19, 2020

Best Basic Banana Bread

Is there anything better than banana bread right out of the oven? This recipe is the best basic banana bread recipe with a special ingredient to make it extra moist!

Best Basic Banana Bread

Years ago, My friend Ann gave me her best basic banana bread recipe. It quickly became my go-to recipe because it was easy to make, and I always had the ingredients on hand. I’m a huge fan of banana bread and this recipe is one I’ve made for over 25 years.

Basic Banana Bread

Ann is my friend from Spokane, and Grant’s friend growing up. Her Dad was Grant’s Bishop at church when he was young. We were surprised when we moved to Spokane to find Ann and her husband Chris living close by, in our new neighborhood. We had some fun times in Spokane, and loved sharing recipes. Ann would tell me about her mother, Marva and what a great cook she was. I remember when Ann confessed to me that she didn’t think she had eaten a canned vegetable her whole life…until she got married!

Ann's Banana Bread

The buttermilk in this recipe makes it SO moist. You’ll need about 1/2 cup of buttermilk. No buttermilk on hand? No problem. All you need is milk and a little white vinegar or lemon juice! For every one cup of buttermilk, pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a one cup measure, then fill the measuring cup to the one cup mark. It’s important to let it sit for 5-10 minutes before using to allow the lemon juice or vinegar create a curdling action in the milk. Using part milk, part half and half or cream also works.

Basic Banana Bread
Banana Bred made with buttermilk

We have a few other banana bread recipes on ABK our family loves! This Sour Cream Banana Bread is also one of my favorites, and Greek yogurt is a great substitute for the sour cream. If you love pancakes and banana bread, you have to try our Banana Bread Buttermilk Pancakes– a breakfast dream!

After summer when the weather changes, I make this Pumpkin Banana Bread with Orange Glaze which is perfect for fall! And if you like to bake with coconut oil, our Coconut Oil Banana Bread is the recipe for you! It has three variations, regular, Pineapple Banana Bread and Chocolate Banana Bread.

Ann's Banana Bread

Notice how moist and flavorful our best basic banana bread LOOKS? The taste matches the photos. I know this will quickly become your family favorite banana bread too! It’s seriously impossible to make dry banana bread using this recipe.

5 from 13 votes
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Best Basic Banana Bread

Our best basic banana bread is made with buttermilk! So easy to make 2 loaves with one recipe.

Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword banana bread, quick bread
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 2 loaves

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature, OR 1/4 cup butter + 1/4 cup canola or coconut oil
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar OR 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
  • 3 ripe bananas mashed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 2 1/4 cups All purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt if using salted butter, 1/2 teaspoon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 medium size loaf pans. 

  2. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add eggs, and beat mixture until smooth.

  3. Mash banana, add to the butter/sugar egg mixture. If the bananas are very soft, just add to the bowl, the paddle or beaters will mash the banana.

  4. Mix in buttermilk and vanilla until blended well. Turn off mixer.

  5. Combine all of the dry ingredients into a bowl, and pour all at once into the wet mixture.

  6. Fold together, just until wet and dry ingredients are incorporated. Don’t over mix. I use a large spoon or spatula for this step. No need to use the mixer. See notes.

  7. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Recipe Notes

  1. If you like “Hawaiian” Banana Bread, substitute 1/2 cup drained, crushed pineapple and use 2 bananas.
  2. I don’t use a mixer after the wet ingredients are mixed. The best quick breads are made without using  a mixer. Over mixing this batter will result in a spongy texture instead of a quick bread with a tender crumb.
  3. I like using 1/4 butter and 1/4 oil in this recipe instead of all butter. I think the texture of the banana bread is a little more moist and it doesn’t seem quite as heavy. 
  • In Spain, I have made this banana bread recipe many times. Through much trial and error, I have found the following alterations to work the best at sea level in a very humid environment:
  • 1/4 cup butter + 1/4 cup sunflower oil
  • 3 small ripe bananas
  • 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
  • 325 degrees, baked on bottom rack, 50-60 minutes. 

This recipe has been updated with photos and recipe alterations since first posted in August, 2008.

27 thoughts on “Best Basic Banana Bread

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Recipe Rating




  1. I love banana bread. I am also looking for a good banana bread recipe. I am sure going to try your recipe for sure. Thanks for sharing.

    Jan

  2. This banana bread so amazing. Why have you not corrtected the egg omission? It has been written incorrectly for over 2 years. Your web page is now so full of ads…it is very annoying. When I first used your website it was not like this. Sad(:

    1. So sorry for the inconvenience. For 6 years I wrote without being paid a cent for sharing recipes on the blog. Now, I have a few ads which bring me a small amount of income. I believe the addition of the egg in the instructions was corrected quite a long time ago. Have a great day!

  3. Just saw that the egg addition has been corrected. So sorry. I read the comments before looking at the recipe again. Thanks for the correction.

  4. 5 stars
    Hi Si 🙂
    This is MY ALL TIME FAVORITE banana bread and EVERYONE wants the recipe. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

  5. 5 stars
    This was the best banana bread I’ve made! I didn’t have buttermilk but thanks to your tips I was able to make my own with milk and vinegar. It was so delicious! Your recipes are keeping me baking through quaratine!

    1. Hi Dani, I’m so glad to hear that! Baking is definitely helping me through this quarantine too, thank you for sharing,
      xo
      Si

  6. 5 stars
    I LOVED this recipe!! I appreciate the buttermilk substitute and clear directions. I somehow always botch banana bread… but not this time! It seriously tastes amazing. If you’re wondering if you should double the recipe, I’d say don’t… triple it! #bestbananabreadever

  7. 5 stars
    This is the ONLY Banana Bread I will make! Hands down, it’s the best! No one can touch this recipe and you can’t go wrong!

    1. Hi Heather!
      Thanks for your positive review! Easy and delicious. I’m glad you love this recipe as much as I do!
      Thanks for reading ABK.
      xo,
      Si

  8. 5 stars
    This is seriously the best banana bread recipe I have ever made, and I have tried a lot! It’s on a weekly rotation at our house.

  9. 5 stars
    I love when my bananas get old and I need to make this yummy banana bread. It is so easy to throw in a bowl! My youngest daughter wants to eat the whole loaf!

  10. 5 stars
    I have been searching for a banana bread recipe that tastes like my grandma’s. I finally found it here. Thank you for sharing your fabulous recipes. This is comfort food to me.

  11. 5 stars
    The ‘Best Basic Banana Bread’ is a favorite. 🥰 It’s sooo good, especially for banana-bread lovers. 😋 I’ll never forget messaging you about a question I had in regards to this ‘basic’ recipe, and explaining to you how I’m basically the Green Fairy (💚✨🥄from Sleeping Beauty’s cake scene🫠) in the kitchen, folding in the eggs~ shells & all. 😅😂 Lol! You were so kind and generous and sweet in your response, Si… and sharing about the first time you made caramel. 😉 Thank you for sharing your heart, time, talents, and these wonderful + delicious recipes with the world! We are so lucky. Happy Mother’s Day, dear Si! 💖

  12. 5 stars
    The BEST banana bread ever!! I’ve tried so many recipes and this one takes the cake! I have made this over and over again. My family eats it up quickly, All I can say is I need to buy more bananas🍌!! And wait for them to go soft.