The BEST Banana Bread Recipe (And it's easy + healthy!) (2024)

Published: Apr 6, 2020 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 31 Comments

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Moist and fluffy-textured and scented with banana, vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon, this really is the Best Banana Bread Recipe!

I love this recipe so much I’ve made it four times in the past month. Four times. And I’m not usually one for banana bread.

(Zucchini bread holds the number one spot in my heart when it comes to quick bread.)

I know calling this the Best Banana Bread is a pretty tall claim. But it really is.

In This Article

The Best Banana Bread Recipe

This easy banana bread definitely has a classic banana bread taste and texture. It’s faintly scented of banana and vanilla and has a soft, moist texture.

It’s perfect in its simplicity, but if you’re in the mood to jazz up the flavor a little bit you could add nuts and/or increase the amount of cinnamon.

For the past few months this recipe has been my go-to whenever I find myself with over-ripe bananas, which is usually at least two or three times a month. And I still can’t get enough!

Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

A couple of things make this Best Banana Bread Recipe healthier than most:

It only has ¼ cup butter, with yogurt added to keep it moist
It only has 1 cup sugar

Banana Bread FAQs

What Should Bananas Look Like for Banana Bread?

When you’re making banana bread, let your bananas ripen to the point that they’re brown and even blackish.

Pro Tip: The more ripe bananas are (i.e., the darker their skin is), the sweeter and more intensely-flavored they are!

How Do I Know When Banana Bread is Done?

The toothpick test works well! Insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean or with just a couple crumbs, it’s done cooking.

How Do You Keep Banana Bread Moist?

Once your loaf is cooked and cooled to room temperature, cover it up to keep it moist. I leave it in the loaf pan and cover the top with plastic wrap. If you prefer, you can remove it from the pan and wrap the whole loaf in plastic wrap.

More Quick Bread Recipes to Try:

Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith

Best Banana Bread Recipe

By: Faith Gorsky

Moist and fluffy-textured and scented with banana, vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon, this really is the Best Banana Bread Recipe!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 218 kcal

Ingredients

▢ Coconut oil spray
▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
▢ ¾ teaspoon baking soda
▢ ¾ teaspoon salt
▢ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ 1 cup sugar
▢ ¼ cup unsalted butter softened but not melted
▢ 2 large eggs
▢ 1 ½ cups mashed ripe banana about 3 bananas
▢ ⅓ cup plain unsweetened yogurt
▢ 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
▢ ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste
▢ ½ teaspoon almond extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray the inside of an 8 ½ by 4 ½-inch loaf pan with coconut oil spray.
Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
Beat together the sugar and butter in a large bowl, and then beat in the eggs. Once combined, beat in the mashed banana, yogurt, vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, and almond extract.
Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, and stir to combine, being careful not to over-mix.
Spoon batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean or with just a couple crumbs.
Cool 10 minutes in the pan on a wire rack; remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

Faith's Tips

Recipe adapted slightly from Cooking Light's recipe for Classic Banana Bread.
I use an 8 ½ by 4 ½-inch loaf pan to make this recipe - it's the perfect size!
This loaf is wonderful in its simplicity, but if you’re in the mood to jazz up the flavor a little bit you could add nuts and/or increase the amount of cinnamon.
Serving Size and Nutritional Information: This recipe makes 1 loaf. Cut the loaf into 12 slices and each slice is 1 serving.
Mini Loaves: This recipe makes 3 mini loaves (5 ¾ inches long by 3 inches wide by 2 inches deep), and they take between 35 to 40 minutes to cook at 350F.
Muffins: This recipe makes 12 muffins, and they take between 25 to 30 minutes to cook at 350F.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

More Quick Breads

Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe with Brown Butter and Chai Spices
Easy Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread Recipe (Moist Sweet Cornbread!) {video}
Banana Coffee Cake Recipe with Brown Sugar Pecan Swirl - Try Something New with Your Ripe Bananas!
Best Easy Paleo Bread Recipe (Perfect As-Is or for Making Into Sandwiches) {video}

Reader Interactions

Comments

Jen says
December 16, 2019 at 6:29 pm

I’ve made this banana bread recipe a few times and it is wonderful. Just increased cinnamon to 1 tsp and omitted almond extract.
Reply
Tracey says
October 25, 2013 at 3:20 pm

This is an amazing recipe. I really love the addition of almond extract to the recipe, although I never use vanilla paste because I'm a cheap-o. I've literally made this 3 times in the past month and my roommates LOVE it. In fact, I just started my blog and I made this recipe the first recipe I posted on it!!! (: I've been following your blog for a while and it's always been a great source of delicious food. Thanks so much!
Reply
- Faith says
  October 26, 2013 at 5:17 am
  
  Tracey, I am so honored! Thank you so much, I can't even say how much that means to me. Your blog is beautiful and I wish you the best of luck with it. Your Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Sugar Frosting look amazing - I just shared them on my Facebook page! xo
  Reply
  - Tracey says
    October 26, 2013 at 1:05 pm
    
    Wow, thank you so much, I really appreciate the share! I don't have an official FB page for my blog so I can't really share back that way, but I liked your FB page on my personal FB (: Thanks again, for both the recipe and the FB share!!
    Reply
Carla says
April 16, 2013 at 11:45 pm

Just wanted to say thanks for publishing this recipe!! Added a dash of nutmeg and cloves and it tastes amazing! Makes a perfect loaf!
Reply
awesome says
April 08, 2013 at 10:53 am

this is the best banana bread ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Dani Meyer says
February 01, 2013 at 1:53 pm

Amazing recipe! Thank you for saving me from banana bread disaster after disaster!
See Also
Old Fashioned Apple Pie - CopyKat Recipes
Thanks so much! p.s. your photo's are amazing!!
Dani
Reply
Marie says
January 20, 2013 at 3:59 am

Incredibly delicious!
Reply
Anjo Angela says
December 16, 2012 at 12:16 am

Wow, these look fabulous! I do have my go-to banana cake recipe, but have yet to find THE perfect banana bread recipe...definitely trying this one out! Thanks Faith!
Reply
Noraly says
December 10, 2012 at 4:15 am

It looks amazing! Can you send the complete recipe to me please?, i can't wait to try it!
Reply
- Faith says
  December 10, 2012 at 10:42 am
  
  Noraly, I just emailed it - enjoy! :)
  Reply
Renee@Mykitchenadventures says
December 04, 2012 at 7:53 pm

I made this bread last week and it really was a GREAT recipe! A keeper for sure! Thanks for sharing.
Reply
Veronica says
December 01, 2012 at 5:28 am

Doncha love it when you find the BEST recipe? I've tried so many ones for banana bread (I went on a rampage and tried almost thirty recipes this year, no joke) and finally found a favorite but of course I have to try this one! I know that you do not say "best" lightly and I trust your judgement. Pinned!
Reply
Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies says
November 27, 2012 at 1:46 pm

Love banana bread...your looks delicious. My favorite banana bread is a version I'm slightly modified from Martha Stewart. I'll have to give your recipe a try!
Reply
Ashley - Baker by Nature says
November 27, 2012 at 10:57 am

I have a love/hate relationship with recipes I LOVE so much I make over and over again. We make banana bread all the time over here, and your version looks perfect! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! x
Reply
grace says
November 27, 2012 at 8:46 am

if i'm making banana bread, you'd better believe that cinnamon will be involved, and more than enough to provide a little intrigue. :)
Reply
Jenn and Seth says
November 27, 2012 at 1:48 am

and now i desperately want to make banana bread - this sounds soooooo good!
Reply
Tammy says
November 26, 2012 at 11:30 pm

Do you have a complete recipe of the one you use. Do I have to cut and paste the old recipe and then put in your changes?Thank you for your response.
Reply
- Faith says
  November 27, 2012 at 1:26 pm
  
  Tammy, I just emailed you the recipe - hope you enjoy it!
  Reply
Carolyn Jung says
November 26, 2012 at 11:18 pm

Four times in one month? Well, we don't have to worry about you getting your share of potassium, do we? LOL Banana bread is pure comfort in loaf form. I can't blame you for wanting a slice again and again.
Reply
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
November 26, 2012 at 7:08 pm

If you say so, I'm in! Looks lovely!
Reply
Kelly @ Inspired Edibles says
November 26, 2012 at 5:26 pm

Haha, I get like that too. When I find a recipe that I love, my family is required to eat it multiple times in the weeks that follow :). This does look like a wonderfully moist and flavourful banana bread.
Reply
Nancy-SpicieFoodie says
November 26, 2012 at 3:27 pm

I can see why you renamed it to the Best Banana Bread. It looks so moist and I just love the changes you made. Can't wait for the next batch of ripe bananas to give this a try;)
Reply
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
November 26, 2012 at 2:50 pm

I love all the vanilla goodness you added to this bread - it certainly earns the title of "best"!
Reply
BeadedTail says
November 26, 2012 at 2:49 pm

I love banana bread but yet I love any quick bread! We do have extra bananas so maybe I need to make this this week!
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Evelyne@cheapethniceatz says
November 26, 2012 at 2:36 pm

I have not made banana bread in for ever! Nice tweaks with extra vanilla and cinnamon. If you made it so many times it must be the best.
Reply
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says
November 26, 2012 at 1:55 pm

4x is a lot, especially for a food blogger. it must be amazing! i have to bookmark b/c banana bread is one of my favorites!
Reply
Jean (Lemons and Anchovies) says
November 26, 2012 at 11:29 am

I can't resist a good banana bread and if you crown it with the word best, I'm sure it's wonderful! Wish I had some with my tea. :)
Reply
Katerina says
November 26, 2012 at 9:37 am

I eat one banana every day as part of my diet! I would love to substitute it with a piece of this bread!!!!
Reply
Erica says
November 26, 2012 at 7:41 am

I adore banana bread and muffins. I've been particularly addicted to a vegan recipe as of late (the website is under construction- will send you the recipe when its back up!!). I will definitely give this one a go
Reply
Rosa says
November 26, 2012 at 7:06 am

It looks amazing! A moist and tempting cake.
Cheers,
Rosa
Reply