There’s nothing quite like a slice of warm banana bread bursting with banana flavor and perfectly moist. This recipe combines the best elements to create a truly exceptional banana bread you’ll love.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 very ripe bananas (the riper the better!)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth. You can leave a few small chunks for texture.
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix!
- Gently fold in the chopped walnuts or chocolate chips, if using.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for the Best Banana Bread:
- Use very ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your banana bread will be. Look for bananas with brown spots on the peel.
- Don’t overmix: Overmixing can lead to a tough banana bread. Mix the batter just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
- Add mix-ins: This recipe is a great base for customization! For some extra flavor variations, try adding chopped nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top before baking.
- Moistness matters: To ensure a moist banana bread, you can add a tablespoon of sour cream or plain yogurt to the batter.
With these tips and this recipe, you’re well on your way to baking the best banana bread you’ve ever tasted! Enjoy it warm with a pat of butter or your favorite spread.