Description
This classic banana bread recipe is moist, flavorful, and easy to bake, making it perfect for brunch or any time you crave a comforting homemade treat. Loaded with ripe bananas, warm spices, and optional nuts or chocolate chips, it’s a versatile loaf that pairs wonderfully with coffee or tea.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Optional Add-ins
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan to prevent sticking.
- Mash Bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas thoroughly until smooth to ensure even flavor throughout the bread.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and stir to combine. This adds moisture and richness.
- Mix in Sugar: Whisk in the granulated sugar until it is fully incorporated, ensuring sweetness is evenly distributed.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Gently stir in the egg and vanilla extract, which help bind the ingredients and enhance flavor.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg to distribute leavening and spices evenly.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
- Fold in Optional Ingredients: Fold in walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips if using, to add texture and flavor.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan and spread it out smoothly.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes. Start checking at 50 minutes by inserting a wooden skewer into the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense bread; mix until just combined.
- Optional nuts can be toasted beforehand to bring out more flavor.
- Chocolate chips add a sweeter twist but can be omitted for a traditional flavor.
- Store banana bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: banana bread, quick bread, brunch recipe, easy banana bread, homemade banana bread, moist banana bread, banana walnut bread, banana chocolate chip bread
