Basic Banana Bread Recipe

Stuff You’ll Need

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon table salt
• 2¼ cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 4 to 5 bananas)
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Stuff to Know Before Baking

Use very ripe bananas—deeply speckled or even black—for the best flavor and texture. Mash them well with a potato masher.

This recipe works best in an 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan; if using a 9 x 5-inch pan, begin checking for doneness 5 minutes early.

Placing the pan on a rimmed baking sheet helps catch any potential overflow.

Prep the Oven and Pan

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat to 350°F.

Spray an 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil spray.

Make the Batter

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk the mashed bananas, brown sugar, melted butter, and eggs until well combined, breaking up any sugar clumps.

Gently whisk in the flour mixture until just combined. The batter will be lumpy.

Bake

Set the prepared loaf pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour the batter into the pan and sprinkle the granulated sugar evenly over the top.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 5 to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Cool and Serve

Let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes.

Carefully remove from the pan and let cool for at least another 30 minutes before slicing.

Serve warm or at room temperature. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap to store at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Basic Banana Bread

This banana bread is rich and moist with deep caramel notes from the dark brown sugar, balanced by the natural sweetness and intense banana flavor of the overripe fruit. The touch of salt and baking soda enhances the sweetness while keeping the crumb tender and soft.

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

1 hour hour

Total Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon table salt
• 2¼ cups mashed very ripe bananas about 4 to 5 bananas
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled slightly
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Instructions

• Adjust oven rack to the middle position and heat to 350°F.
• Spray an 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
• In a large bowl, whisk mashed bananas, brown sugar, melted butter, and eggs until well combined.
• Gently whisk in the flour mixture until just combined (batter will be lumpy).
• Pour batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over the top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 5 to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool at least another 30 minutes before slicing.
• Serve warm or at room temperature. Wrap tightly to store for up to 5 days.