Homemade Banana Bread

Introduction

There’s nothing quite like the smell of homemade banana bread wafting through your kitchen. This simple, comforting loaf makes a perfect breakfast, snack, or dessert. It’s an easy recipe that anyone can make, even if you’re a beginner in the kitchen. When you have some overripe bananas sitting on your counter, this recipe is just what you need to turn them into something delicious!

Why Make This Recipe

Making homemade banana bread is not only a great way to use up overripe bananas, but it also allows you to create a quick and tasty treat that your family and friends will enjoy. This recipe is simple, uses everyday ingredients, and produces a moist, flavorful loaf that’s perfect for sharing. Plus, you can customize it with your favorite nuts or spices!

How to Make Homemade Banana Bread

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp salted butter, room-temperature ($0.50)
1/4 cup cooking oil ($0.16)
1/2 cup granulated sugar ($0.48)
1/2 cup brown sugar ($0.24)
1.5 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas) ($0.78)
2 large eggs ($1.34)
1 tsp vanilla extract ($0.65)
2 cups all-purpose flour ($0.36)
1 tsp baking soda ($0.01)
1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg ($0.02)
1/4 tsp cinnamon ($0.02)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional) ($1.68)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Add the room-temperature butter, cooking oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the ingredients together until they become light and creamy.
Mash the bananas well, then add them to the mixing bowl with the butter and sugar, along with the eggs and vanilla extract. Use the mixer again to beat the ingredients together until smooth.
In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon until well combined.
Pour the flour mixture into the bowl of wet ingredients and fold them together just until combined. Do not overmix.
Add the chopped walnuts to the bowl and gently fold to combine again.
Grease an 8.5"x4.5" loaf pan with butter or oil, then add the batter and smooth it out evenly into the pan.
Bake the banana bread in the preheated 350°F oven for 60 minutes or until it’s deeply golden brown on top, has a crack down the center, and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean (crumbs are okay, but wet batter is not).
Allow the loaf to cool for about 5 minutes in the pan, then gently remove it from the pan and allow it to finish cooling on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice, serve, and enjoy!

How to Serve Homemade Banana Bread

You can serve banana bread warm or at room temperature. It’s great on its own, but try adding a smear of butter, cream cheese, or even a drizzle of honey for extra flavor. For a fun twist, serve slices with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!

How to Store Homemade Banana Bread

To store your banana bread, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and keep it at room temperature. It will usually stay fresh for about 3-4 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it. Just slice it first, wrap the slices in plastic, and then place them in an airtight container. It will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Tips to Make Homemade Banana Bread

Use overripe bananas for the best flavor and moisture.
Don’t overmix your batter; this can make the bread dense.
Make sure your butter is at room temperature for easier mixing.
If you like, try substituting half of the flour with whole wheat flour for a healthier version.

Variation

You can customize your banana bread by adding different mix-ins, such as chocolate chips, dried fruit, or different nuts. You could even swirled in some peanut butter or Nutella for a decadent treat!

FAQs

1. Can I use frozen bananas?
Yes! Frozen bananas work well for banana bread. Just thaw them before mashing.

2. What can I do if I don’t have enough bananas?
You can substitute applesauce for some of the banana; use about 1/2 cup of applesauce for every banana you’re missing.

3. How do I know when the banana bread is done?
A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. If batter sticks to the toothpick, bake it a little longer.

Now that you know how to make delicious homemade banana bread, gather your ingredients and start baking! Enjoy every bite of this comforting treat.

Homemade Banana Bread

A simple and comforting loaf perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert made from overripe bananas.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 15

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 8 slices

Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

4 Tbsp salted butter, room-temperature
1/4 cup cooking oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1.5 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3-4 bananas) Use overripe bananas for best flavor and moisture.
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour For a healthier version, try substituting half with whole wheat flour.
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Optional Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped walnuts Optional

Instructions

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Add the room-temperature butter, cooking oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the ingredients together until they become light and creamy.
Mash the bananas well, then add them to the mixing bowl with the butter and sugar, along with the eggs and vanilla extract. Use the mixer again to beat the ingredients together until smooth.
In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon until well combined.
Pour the flour mixture into the bowl of wet ingredients and fold them together just until combined. Do not overmix.
Add the chopped walnuts to the bowl and gently fold to combine again.
Grease an 8.5"x4.5" loaf pan with butter or oil, then add the batter and smooth it out evenly into the pan.

Baking

Bake the banana bread in the preheated 350°F oven for 60 minutes or until it’s deeply golden brown on top, has a crack down the center, and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean (crumbs are okay, but wet batter is not).

Cooling

Allow the loaf to cool for about 5 minutes in the pan, then gently remove it from the pan and allow it to finish cooling on a wire rack.
Once cooled, slice, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

You can serve banana bread warm or at room temperature. It’s great on its own, but try adding a smear of butter, cream cheese, or even a drizzle of honey for extra flavor.

Keyword Baking, Banana Bread, comfort food, Homemade Banana Bread, Quick Bread