Classic Banana Bread Recipe

This delicious homemade banana bread is easy to make and comes out perfect every time.  With the right combination of ingredients, this classic banana bread is moist, just sweet enough, and is perfect for gift giving!

This is the banana bread my family often requests, as they aren’t strictly gluten-free.  

Try it toasted – yum!

How to make classic banana bread:

Step 1:  Gather and measure the ingredients.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.

Step 2:  Cream the sugar and butter in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth and creamy, about one minute.

Step 3:  Add each egg, beating, and combining thoroughly. 

Step 4:  Then, add the banana, yogurt, and vanilla and mix until combined.

Step 5: Next, add the flour mixture, beating on the lowest setting on your electric mixer. 

Tip:  When it comes time to add flour to any baking recipe, I am on high alert to just mix until combined.  This way the mixture should stay light and fluffy.

Step 6:  Scoop batter into your prepared standard loaf pan (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches).

Step 7: Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour, until a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the bread, comes out clean. 

Since all oven temperatures are different, I would start checking at 50 minutes. 

Once done, cool your bread in the pan for 10 minutes.

Then remove the bread and continue cooling on a wire rack until completely cool.  I know it’s hard to wait!  Once cool, slice and enjoy.

Baker’s Tips:

• Try to have all ingredients room temperature.
• Use very ripe bananas – for the sweetest flavor.
• When you add the flour, mix until batter is just combined. (don’t overmix)
• Line the pan with parchment paper (easy to clean and comes out easily from the pan).

What if you don’t have a loaf pan for baking?

• You can also use an 8 x 8 pan to bake this recipe.  The baking time will be about 20 minutes.

Is banana bread supposed to rise?

• Banana bread does not have yeast, and has more of a moist cake texture, is sweeter than bread, and rises a little due to the addition of baking soda.

How long should you let banana bread cool?

• Let the banana bread cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire rack, while still in the pan.  This will give the bread a chance to hold together better and easier to slice!

Banana bread recipes:

• Banana Bread
• Banana Bread with Streusel Topping
• Flourless Banana Bread
• Coconut Flour Banana Bread

Banana recipes:

• Chocolate Banana Ice Cream
• Banana Ice Cream
• Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

5 from 1 vote

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Classic Banana Bread Recipe!

Prep Time

25 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

1 hr 25 mins

 

This delicious homemade banana bread is easy to make and comes out perfect every time.  With the right combination of ingredients, this classic banana bread is moist, just sweet enough, and is perfect for gift giving!

Course: Bread, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American, Dessert

Servings: 8

Calories: 314 kcal

Author: Christine Galvani

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter (softened)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas ( I used 2 bananas)
• 1/3 cup yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare your loaf pan by spraying with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. In medium sized bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.

3. In electric mixing bowl fitted with paddle attachment, cream sugars and butter (approximately one minute).

4. To this mixture, add eggs, one at a time, completely combining after each one.

5. Next, add bananas, yogurt and vanilla, beating until blended.

6. Add the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Do not over beat.

7. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches - standard loaf pan).

8. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 60 minutes. I would start checking at 50 minutes, as all oven temperatures vary. It is done when toothpick inserted in center of bread comes out clean.

9. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

10. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack until completely cool.

11. Slice and serve.

Recipe Notes

Baker's Tips:

• Try to have all ingredients room temperature.
• Use very ripe bananas - for the sweetest flavor.
• When you add the flour, mix until batter is just combined. (don't overmix)
• Line the pan with parchment paper (easy to clean and comes out easily from the pan).

What if you don't have a loaf pan for baking?

• You can also use an 8 x 8 pan to bake this recipe.  The baking time will be about 20 minutes.

Is banana bread supposed to rise?

• Banana bread does not have yeast, and has more of a moist cake texture, is sweeter than bread, and rises a little due to the addition of baking soda.

How long should you let banana bread cool?

• Let the banana bread cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire rack, while still in the pan.  This will give the bread a chance to hold together better and easier to slice

Nutrition Facts

Classic Banana Bread Recipe!

Amount Per Serving

Calories 314 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 4g20%

Cholesterol 57mg19%

Sodium 324mg14%

Potassium 183mg5%

Carbohydrates 57g19%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 30g33%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 265IU5%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 38mg4%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe was originally published on January 13, 2013, and was updated with new photos and descriptions in July 2020.