Moist Banana Bread Recipe (2024)

This moist banana bread recipe transforms overripe bananas into a perfect loaf. You’ll just need a handful ingredients you likely have on hand and of course ripe bananas!

This recipe is easy to make and its perfect if you’d like to add nuts or chocolate chips.

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Bananas for Banana Bread

For this recipe, you’ll need 1 ⅓cupsmashed bananas– about 4 small bananas. They should be dark yellow with lots of brown or black spots and very soft.

To Ripen Bananas Quickly

If you’d want to ripen bananas for banana bread or cake, they can be ripened (baked) in the oven. Place bananas on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes (the skins will turn black). Cool before using.

To freeze bananas for later: Ripe bananas can be peeled and frozen for future recipes. Place peeled bananas in a medium freezer bag and freeze up to 4 months. To use, thaw and drain excess liquid.

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How to Make Banana Bread

This is a classic banana bread recipe and while the ingredients are simple, it’s moist and tender.

  1. Combine dry ingredients per the recipe below and set aside.
  2. Beat the butter and sugar, add the remaining wet ingredients, including the mashed bananas.
  3. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
  4. Bake as directed.

Serve fresh out of the oven or heated slightly with butter for an easy and delicious snack!

Add-Ins and Variations

This classic banana bread recipe is a basic version but feel free to add toasted nuts like walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, blueberries or a little bit of shredded carrots orzucchini.

TIP:Toss the add-ins with a bit of flour before adding to the batter. This will help keep them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf.

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Tips for Moist Banana Bread

These tips will ensure your loaf is tender and moist and will apply to most quick breads or muffin recipes.

  • Ensure your pan is the correct size.
  • Measure the flour correctly by spooning it into the measuring cup, not scooping it with the measuring cup.
  • Mix just until the ingredients are moistened, overmixing will make a dense loaf.
  • Do not overbake. Ovens can vary, be sure to check your bread at least 10 minutes early.
  • Remove from the pan to cool completely.
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Storing Leftovers

Quick bread is easy to store and will last about 5 days. Keep it wrapped in plastic wrap, foil, or in a sealed container at room temperature. It can be warmed for about 10 seconds in the microwave if desired.

To Freeze Banana Bread

Most quick breads can be frozen, just make sure they are sealed well.

Freezein a zippered bag or an airtight container labeled with the date on it. Frozen banana bread should stay fresh for about 8 weeks. Thaw at room temperature and serve!

More Great Banana Recipes

Bananas aren’t just for bread, they’re amazing for all kinds of baked goods.

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4.95 from 698 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Moist Banana Bread

A mildly sweet and moist quick bread that everyone loves, this easy banana bread recipe will be your go-to!

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Moist Banana Bread Recipe (13)

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Moist Banana Bread Recipe (14)

Servings 12 servings

Moist Banana Bread Recipe (15)

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened or vegetable oil
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ⅓ cups mashed bananas about 4 small

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour (or line with parchment paper) an 8×4-inch loaf pan.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

  • In a separate medium bowl, add butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Mix with a hand mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Stir in mashed bananas.

  • Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir just until combined, do not overmix.

  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overbake.

  • Cool in the pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on a rack.

Video

Notes

To Ripen Bananas: Bake in a 350°F oven for 15 mins then allow to cool.

Be sure to measure the flour correctly by spooning it into a measuring cup, not scooping it with the measuring cup.

Do not overbake. Ovens can vary, be sure to check your bread at least 10 minutes early. Remove from the pan to cool completely.

4.95 from 698 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 221 | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 269mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 287IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Moist Banana Bread Recipe (19) Course Bread, Breakfast, Dessert

Moist Banana Bread Recipe (20) Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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, Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Moist Banana Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a bread soft and moist? ›

For example, fats like butter or oil can help keep moisture in, while sugars will help to caramelize on the outside and create a golden crust. These ingredients can also play an essential role in keeping your bread moist when added in smaller quantities.

Why is my banana bread not moist? ›

When it comes to banana bread, moisture is key, and the ratio of flour to banana makes all the difference in getting the perfect banana bread consistency. If you use too much flour, you'll end up with really dry banana bread, and If you don't use enough flour, your banana bread will be way too wet.

How do you keep banana bread moist when baking? ›

You can use light or extra-virgin olive oil. The olive oil will make any bread cake moist. Other things I do for my banana bread are adding a little molasses, just a little bit more sugar and vanilla flavor and more bananas. I usually let it cool a little and then wrap it in aluminum foil.

Why is my banana bread dense and dry? ›

Moisture is key when it comes to banana bread, and the ratio of flour to banana makes all the difference. If you use too much flour, you'll end up with dry bread. If you don't use enough, your bread will be too wet. The secret is actually in how you measure the flour.

How can I make my bread more moist? ›

The method involves briefly cooking a small percentage of the recipe's flour and liquid (usually water or milk) into a slurry mixture, instead of adding them directly to the bread's other ingredients. This slurry is then worked into the remaining recipe, and gives the resulting bread a much more pillowy soft interior.

What adds moisture to bread? ›

Honey adds both sweetness and moisture to breads such as challah. Be sure to use a pasteurized honey, as wild honeys contain antibacterial properties that can kill yeast. Store honey at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Honey would makes everything better, but especially sourdough.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for banana bread? ›

As a general rule, you can use either baking soda OR baking powder in banana bread – both ingredients will make your banana bread rise. While baking soda will react with acidic ingredients in the batter to raise your bread, baking powder can leaven banana bread without the addition of acidic ingredients.

Why is my banana bread still gooey in the middle? ›

Some people do not preheat their oven long enough.

If your oven has not reached the correct baking temperature before the banana bread is placed in the oven, the banana bread will be undercooked and more likely to sink.

Why is my banana bread still gooey? ›

There was too much moisture in your batter. I've had this happen more than once since I like to add 5 bananas per loaf. I use frozen/thawed bananas, or I place fresh ripe bananas in the microwave for about 5min to release liquid. The liquid is then cooked down into a syrup and added back to the batter when cooled.

Can you leave freshly baked banana bread out overnight? ›

If you're planning to eat your banana bread within three to four days, it can be left out at room temperature. To keep it fresh, place a paper towel in the bottom of an airtight container. Place the loaf of banana bread on top, add another paper towel, and put the lid on the container.

How ripe should bananas be for banana bread? ›

Let the bananas ripen (and overripen) at room temperature. Depending on the weather, this could take a few days, or up to a week. The best bananas for banana bread aren't yellow; they're black. Or they're at least streaked with black/brown, with just the barest hint of green at the stem.

What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder? ›

Baking soda and baking powder are not the same. Sodium bicarbonate and bicarbonate of soda are other names for baking soda. Baking powder is made of baking soda plus cream of tartar and cornstarch. Baking powder can be substituted for baking soda by tripling the amount of baking powder.

What to do when you put too much flour in banana bread? ›

If so, I would dump out all the flour, remeasure and then add in the correct amount, subtracting a little bit (say a half teaspoon) for the flour you couldn't remove that stuck to the other ingredients. Was it before you baked it?

What makes bread light and fluffy? ›

Carbon dioxide is responsible for all the bubbles that make holes in bread, making it lighter and fluffier. Because gas is created as a result of yeast growth, the more the yeast grows, the more gas in the dough and the more light and airy your bread loaf will be.

How do you keep bread soft and fluffy? ›

  1. Store bread in an airtight container or plastic bag: This will help trap the bread's natural moisture and prevent it from drying out.
  2. Keep bread at room temperature: Storing bread in the refrigerator can cause it to dry out, so it's best to keep it at room temperature.
Apr 8, 2023

What does egg do to bread? ›

I've since done a number of tests myself and adding a whole egg to a super strong dough with a little oil and honey has become my favourite! A pillowy soft loaf the will blow your mind and oven! Eggs in dough usually produces an extra open and delicate crumb and the bread comes with an extra rise.

Does wetter dough make softer bread? ›

“Wet" dough will still bake. The final bread will be more dense but the trade-off is that bread from a wetter dough actually lasts longer before going stale.

What does adding milk do to bread? ›

Milk yields dough with a higher pH compared to water dough, and the fermentation will be slower. Fermentation tolerance (the ability of the dough to work properly in a range of temperatures) will be slightly improved. Bench time will be extended as the dough ferments more slowly at this stage.

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