Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe – Soft, Moist & Effortless
This incredibly soft, moist banana bread stays fresh for days and transforms overripe bananas into a delicious breakfast or snack. Perfect for busy families looking for quick, easy recipes!
Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas (black spots covering at least half the peel)
- ⅓ cup (75g) melted butter or neutral oil
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60g) plain yogurt or sour cream
- 1½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
- In a large bowl, mash the overripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth with just a few small lumps remaining.
- Add the melted butter or oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and yogurt to the mashed bananas. Stir until well combined.
- Sprinkle the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon over the wet ingredients.
- Gently fold everything together until just combined. A few small flour streaks are fine - avoid overmixing.
- If using, fold in the walnuts or chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil after 40 minutes.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to lift it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing
Notes
For maximum flavor, use very ripe bananas with lots of black spots.
Store at room temperature, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.
Refrigerate for up to a week, or freeze slices individually wrapped for up to 3 months.
For a healthier version, replace half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat, reduce sugar to ½ cup total, and add chopped walnuts.
Try toasting a slice and topping with cream cheese for a special breakfast treat.