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Featured Review: Fran says, "I made this Banana Bread recipe and it was delicious. It was moist and I couldn’t stop eating it. It was easy to make. Thank you."
Looking for a healthy quick bread recipe? Try our Healthy Apple Muffins Recipe, loaded with sweet apples, and savory cinnamon. Made with oatmeal and almond flour for a healthy twist. They are delish!
Enjoy the best of both worlds with our recipe for Banana Muffins with Streusel Topping that tastes just like this popular banana bread recipe!
Got a sweet tooth? Try something sweeter like our Cherry Pie Bars.
Recipe From A Friend
When I was a young mom, I couldn't for the life of me make a great banana bread. It always turned out overcooked on the outside, and the center of the loaf was undercooked on the inside.
That was until my good friend LaDonna saved the day and shared her old family original recipe with me. And it's the best banana bread we've ever had! Thanks LaDonna!
Ingredients
Next time you have some extra bananas, make this great recipe and use them up. All you need for this old fashioned banana bread recipe are yellow or brown spotted bananas and some simple pantry staples.
This easy recipe makes two loaves of banana bread.
salted butter - Butter must be room temperature in order to incorporate into the batter properly.
granulated sugar - White sugar is better here than brown sugar for that classic banana bread flavor.
large bananas - The best bananas are overripe bananas with brown spots. The darker they are, the more pronounced the banana flavor will be.
large eggs
pure vanilla extract
all purpose flour - Bread flour is an acceptable substitute. Bread flour will make it a little less dense than using AP flour.
baking soda
salt - Finely ground kosher salt. We recommend Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt.
sour cream - May substitute ½ cup buttermilk. Out of buttermilk? Make one of our easy buttermilk substitutes.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Pro Tip
Pro Tip - It's important to use room temperature ingredients when baking. Room temperature ingredients allow more air to be beaten into the batter or dough, leading to a light and fluffy baked good.
How To Make Old Fashioned Banana Bread
1. Pre-Heat Oven. Pre-heat oven to 325°F and set a rack in the middle of the oven.
Make the Batter
2. Cream Together Butter and Sugar. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or KitchenAid Stand Mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and incorporate all the butter and sugar evenly.
3. Mix Together Wet Ingredients. Mash bananas and add the eggs and vanilla to the mashed bananas. Whisk it all together until smooth.
4. Combine Creamed Butter and Sugar Mixture With Wet Ingredients. Add banana mixture to the butter and sugar. Mix together until well combined.
5. Sift Together Dry Ingredients. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
6. Mix Batter. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture, alternating with sour cream. Mix together until smooth.
Variations
This is the time to incorporate any extras you'd like to put into your Banana Bread. Try adding 1 cup of any of these tasty add-ins:
- Banana Bread with Raisins
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe - Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Dark Chocolate Chips
- Banana Nut Bread or Banana Nut Muffins - Chopped Pecans or Walnuts
Prep for Baking
7. Prepare Bread Pans. Butter two large loaf pans with one tablespoon of butter and dust them with flour. Using greased loaf pan that has been dusted with flour will make un-molding the baked banana bread so easy.
8. Pour Batter Into Prepared Pan. Next, spread the batter evenly in the two pans and set aside.
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Bake
9. Get Ready to Bake. Place the pans into the oven on the center rack. Once in the oven, it doesn't take long for the wonderful smell of homemade banana bread to start wafting through the house!
Bake the bread for approximately 45 minutes or until a toothpick placed in the center comes out dry.
10. Set Bread Pans on Cooling Rack. Set the bread on a wire rack for 10 minutes. If you pop them out of the pan too quickly, the bread will stick to the bottom of the pan. So, be patient.
11. Un-Mold the Baked Bread. Run a knife around the edges between the pan and the bread and gently take the bread out of the pans and sent on a wire rack to cool.
Top Tip
It's a good idea to allow the bread to cool for a little while so that it will be easier to slice. However, patience always runs thin by then and we can never wait to slice into it as soon as it's out of the pan. The first loaf is usually gone in minutes!
Serving Suggestion
The perfect way to serve this homemade banana bread is fresh and warm, right out of the oven. Slice and serve plain, or topped with melted butter or cream cheese. Personally, I'm a butter girl. So, give me all the butter!
Recipe FAQs
Banana bread will last for 2-3 days at room temperature or up to 6 months in the freezer.
Serve Banana Bread with the following:
. Cream Cheese
. Butter
. Fresh Fruit
. Brunch Dishes
. or with your Morning Coffee
Store individual slices or whole loaf of banana bread covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil or stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Wrap room temperature banana bread in parchment paper and place in a plastic zipper freezer bag or an airtight container. Squeeze out all the air as you close the zipper.
There you have it. Our Old Fashioned Banana Bread Recipe has the perfect combination of classic flavors and moist, dense crumb. Anyway you like it, you can't go wrong with this foolproof recipe. We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty recipe! Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you!
xo ~ Seanna
Love this recipe? Try our recipe for Banana Muffins with Streusel Topping that tastes just like it but with a buttery streusel topping!
Did you love this recipe? If you make this recipe and love it, stop back, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Seanna's Kitchen and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe to my Newsletter for ALL the latest recipes! We'd love to hear from you!
📖 Recipe
Best Old Fashioned Banana Bread Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup salted butter 1 ½ sticks, room temperature.
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cup bananas mashed.
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon table salt
- ½ cup sour cream*
Instructions
- Pre-Heat Oven. Pre-heat oven to 325°F and set a rack in the middle of the oven.
- Cream Butter and Sugar. Using a hand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar into a smooth texture and the butter is light yellow in color.¾ cup salted butter, 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- Mix Together Wet Ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla.1 ½ cup bananas, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Combine Creamed Butter and Sugar Mixture With Wet Ingredients. Add the banana mixture to the creamed butter and sugar and mix until well combined.
- Sift Together Dry Ingredients. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt.2 cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon table salt, ½ cup sour cream*
- Mix Batter. Add the dry ingredients and sour cream to the wet ingredients mixture, a little at a time, alternating between the two. Mix all together into a smooth batter and set aside.
- Prepare Bread Pans. Prepare two bread pans by buttering and flouring each pan. Be sure to tap out the excess flour.
- Pour Batter Into Pans. Divide the batter equally between the prepared pans.
- Bake. Place pans on the center rack in the pre-heated oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out dry.
- Set Bread Pans on Cooling Rack. When loaves are ready to come out of the oven, set them on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes.
- Un-mold the Baked Bread. Gently slide the edge of a knife between the loaf and side of the pan and follow the path around the entire loaf. This will make it easier to get out of the pan. Turn the pan over and pop the bread out of the pan and set it on the rack to cool.
Video
Notes
Substitution
Substitute ½ cup buttermilk for ½ cup sour cream.Variations
Try one of these tasty add-ins: chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped pecans.Nutrition
Christy
This is, by far, THE best banana bread I have ever eaten! Wow!
Seanna Borrows
Aw thanks so much Christy! I'm so happy you took the time to let me know. We love it too. Never lasts long around here!
Paula Green
I want to try this in a bundt pan. Would it work? If so, how long should I cook, and on what temp? Thank you
Seanna Borrows
Hi there Paula, I love the idea of using a bundt pan! I haven't tested this recipe in a bundt pan yet, but I will and post the results here in the comments when I do. I would leave the temperature at 325°F and time the same and see how it does. Bake it for a little bit longer if necessary. Try to check on it through the oven window without opening the door if you can. So that the heat doesn't escape and lower the oven temperature. Hope that helps for now. I'll circle back on this soon! ~ Seanna
Trish
The best banana bread I’ve ever made. I didn’t have sour cream so I substituted with mascarpone cheese. I also added some pecans and chocolate chips. SO GOOD!
Seanna Borrows
oooh mascarpone sounds like a great substitution! And the chocolate chips. Yes, please!
Sherri Sullivan
Made 3 different Banana Bread Recipes
In the past 4 days, and this by far the best.
My new recipe 😊
Seanna Borrows
That's amazing Sherri! Thanks so much for letting me know!
Linda
This was the best banana bread! I was skeptical because I never thought banana bread was not banana bread unless it had nuts. Not sure I could go back. I couldn’t stop eating it. Can’t wait to try your other recipes. Thanks so much for sharing
Seanna Borrows
Thanks Linda! So kind of you to let me know! I'm so happy you loved it. My family is always so happy when they smell it baking! If you like apples, try our mini apple pies recipe. It's another fan favorite on our site for sure.
A. Husted
Best banana bread I’ve ever had. Super moist!!
Seanna Borrows
Thank you my friend! So glad you enjoyed it!
Lin
Looks and sounds delicious….but can you freeze banana bread. I’d love to get started for Christmas gifts!!
Seanna Borrows
Hey Lin. So glad you want to make our recipe! Yes, you can definitely freeze banana bread. Just make sure it's completely cooled before you package it up, or the heat will create moisture and ice crystals on the bread.
maryann
I see you have Substitution suggestion in your recipe however,
the recipe does not call for this ingrediant . Please clariffy.
Thank you
Seanna Borrows
Hey there Maryann,
You can substitute buttermilk for the sour cream in this recipe. Either works. Sorry I missed that step in the video. I also responded to you on Pinterest. Let me know if you have any more questions. ~ Seanna
Angela
Highly recommend! This is forever my go to banana bread. I tweaked it just a little and even though it definitely doesn't need it, I like to add cinnamon crumble or a cream cheese mixture on top. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Seanna Borrows
Thanks Angela! Cinnamon sounds like a great add!
Michelle VKM
Okay HELP …. This happens practically it. I follow to a T. After the 60 minutes stick toothpick in comes out clean. Turn oven off leave in oven for 10 minutes. Take out let hang for 10 minutes in pan. Out of pan sit on cutting board for about 6-8 hours.
Just finished cutting and all slices top center are totally wet uncooked batter.
HELP me please I love banana bread and making it homemade. What am I doing wrong? Don’t believe this is how it’s supposed to be. Thank you !! 😊
Seanna Borrows
So glad we were able to figure this out together over email! So glad you reached out for help with this recipe. It's truly one of our favorites and I hope it becomes one of yours.
Key to Success: Remember to use TWO pans for this recipe.
Rebecca b
Excellent!! My whole family loved it!
Seanna Borrows
So happy to hear that Rebecca!