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.

Moist Banana Bread Recipe (1)

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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Moist Banana Bread Recipe (12)

4.95 from 652 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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ReviewPrint

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 652 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 is the secret to moist bread? ›

Fortunately, one of the most glaring baking problems has an easy solution: ensuring your bread stays moist. The key is twofold: use quality ingredients and let the dough stand overnight. If you're using storebought flour, opt for “bread flour,” which will hold better in heat and help create a more tender crumb.

How do you keep banana bread moist? ›

Place a paper towel at the bottom of an airtight container or in a zip-top bag. Place the cooled banana bread on top of it, then cover the loaf with another paper towel. Seal the container tightly and refrigerate for up to one week.

What happens when you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

Using too much banana could make your bread heavy and damp in the center, causing it to appear undercooked and unappealing. If you have bananas leftover, you can always freeze them for later use.

How do you make banana bread less dry? ›

How can I make my banana bread more moist?
  1. Freezing bananas helps. It allows you to mix them in easier and gives it a more consistent texture. ...
  2. Try adding Sour Cream (instead of yoghurt). Maybe 1/4 cup for 1 loaf. ...
  3. Molasses helps the color (be darker), but the flavour becomes a little too strong and maybe even bitter.
Oct 15, 2011

How do you add moisture to bread? ›

Add moisture.

Brush or spritz water all over the bread. Use more if the loaf is very dry and/or has a thick crust. Use less if the loaf has a thin crust or just needs a little pick-me-up. I've actually run the crust of a stale loaf directly under the faucet for a brief second without the bread getting soggy.

How to keep homemade bread moist? ›

foil. Storing bread in either plastic, cloth, or foil helps retain the loaf's moisture.

Why is my banana bread always mushy? ›

Using a lot of bananas adds excess moisture, and there are two ways to get rid of it. You could either add more flour or increase the baking time. Add a tablespoon of extra flour at a time into the batter and give it a good whisk until its consistency starts to look right: thick but runny enough to fall off a spoon.

How do you moisten a loaf of bread? ›

In the oven: Preheat oven to 200° or Warm setting. Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place on a baking sheet, and pop it in the oven for 5-10 minutes. In the microwave: Wrap the bread in a damp (not soaking) towel, place it on a microwave-safe dish, and microwave on high for 10 seconds.

What does adding milk do to bread? ›

The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter. The crust of the bread also gets more caramelization. Be aware that bread made with milk should not be baked at too high of a temperature to prevent it from browning too much too soon.

At what point should you not use bananas for banana bread? ›

If they smell off, that's another good indicator that they are no longer okay to use. Rotten bananas will often have a fermented or alcohol-like smell. While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten.

What is the disadvantage of banana bread? ›

You may find banana bread delicious, but conventional banana breads tend to be high in added sugar, refined carbs, and calories. Thus, it's best to enjoy banana bread occasionally as part of a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.

Why is my banana bread still gooey after an hour? ›

Bake for longer: If the center of your banana bread is still gooey, you may need to bake it for a longer time. Check the bread every 5-10 minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out with moist crumbs, continue baking until the toothpick comes out clean or with a few dry crumbs.

How do you keep banana loaf moist? ›

A refrigerator circulates cool air, which removes moisture and can prematurely dry breads and cakes. Place your cooled loaf on a plate and cover it in plastic wrap, or store it in an airtight container. Store it for up to four days on your counter.

Why is my banana bread moist but crumbly? ›

Using too much flour makes for an extra crumbly bread.

If you're tapping your measuring cup to level out flour as you measure, or you're pushing down the piled-up powder, you'll end up using too much of it. I packed my flour for this loaf, and what I got was a crumbly cake with a dry crust all around.

What makes bread extra soft and fluffy? ›

Milk powder.

Instant milk powder makes bread dough super soft and fluffy and also helps to give it a good rise. It also contributes to the dough staying nice and soft after baking for a little longer than a recipe that does not use milk powder.

How do bakeries get their bread so soft? ›

How Do Bakeries Achieve That Perfect Softness?
  1. Consistency: Bakeries often use machines to ensure consistent kneading and proofing times. ...
  2. Special Ingredients: Many bakeries use dough conditioners or enhancers, which improve the texture and extend the bread's shelf life.
Sep 26, 2023

What makes bread tender and moist? ›

Usually it's gluten (a product of the protein in flour) that determines bread's texture. Bread where gluten plays a prominent role will be chewier. When the gluten level is lower, or when gluten is tamed by the addition of “softeners” like milk, butter, eggs, or oil, the bread will be more tender.

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