Description
This moist and tender banana bread relies on just seven pantry staples for big comfort. Ripe bananas lend natural sweetness and flavor, while a simple blend of flour, sugar, and leavening delivers the perfect quick-bread crumb—no fancy ingredients required!
Ingredients
- 3 whole Very ripe bananas (Mashed until mostly smooth; brown spots welcome)
- 1 cup White sugar (Classic sweetness)
- 1 large Egg (Binder)
- 1/4 cup Butter (Unsalted melted and slightly cooled)
- 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour (Foundation for a tender crumb)
- 1 tsp Baking soda (Leavening agent for lift)
- 1 tsp Salt (Balances sweetness and enhances flavor)
Instructions
Preheat & Prep:
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan (or line with parchment).
Mix Wet Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork until mostly smooth.
- Whisk in sugar and egg until well combined.
- Stir in melted butter.
Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly distributed.
Make the Batter:
- Pour dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
- Fold gently with a spatula until just combined—do not overmix; some flour streaks are fine.
Bake:
- Transfer batter to prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake 55–65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10–15 minutes.
Cool & Slice:
- Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then lift out using the parchment overhang and transfer to a wire rack.
- Cool completely before slicing for clean cuts.
Notes
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Banana Ripeness: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread.
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Make-Ahead: You can mix the batter and refrigerate it, covered, up to 8 hours before baking—just add a few extra minutes to the bake time.
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Storage: Store cooled bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze slices for up to 1 month.
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Comfort Food Insight: During the 2020 global lockdowns, “banana bread” searches skyrocketed, proving that simple comfort bakes bring joy when we need it most.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 205
