I Can’t Believe We Used This Many Bananas In Our New Banana Bread Recipe (2024)

WE’VE MOVED. Love our previous banana bread recipe? Us too! You can still find it here under chocolate chip banana bread.

A classic loaf of banana bread is the epitome of simple home baking, but that doesn't mean it can't also deliver maximum deliciousness. If you’re looking to make the ultimate loaf of banana bread—moist, dense, and absolutely jam-packed with banana—look no further than this recipe. Our tried-and-true banana bread does everything you want it to—it’s quick to whip up with only a handful of pantry ingredients, is full of intense banana flavor, and has that perfect, moist-crumb texture. Looking to take your banana bread over the top? Here’s what you need to know:

The best loaf pan for making banana bread:
This recipe calls for an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" metal loaf pan, greased with cooking spray and lined with parchment with an overhang on both sides (this is to help with easy loaf removal after baking. We chose this loaf pan size to create a tall bread, but you can also use a slightly bigger loaf pan if that's all you have. If you do, keep an eye on your cook time—the size of your pan will affect how long your loaf needs to cook, so your bread will probably be done a few minutes early.

Top tips for making moist banana bread:
Use extra-ripe bananas. A great banana bread should be bursting with banana flavor, so make sure your bananas are super-ripe—and actually measure it. Our recipe uses 2 full cups (450 grams) of ripe mashed banana. That’s approximately 4 large bananas, but size can vary, so we highly recommend you measure or weigh them to be sure.
Mash them WELL. The consistency of the banana should be as smooth as possible before it’s mixed into the batter. If it’s still lumpy, you will end up with chunks of banana in the bread, which we’re not crazy about.
Back it up with dark brown sugar and vanilla. Every star vocalist has at least one back-up singer, and in this recipe, the banana has two. The deeply caramelized notes of the dark brown sugar and the sweet rich vanilla amplify and enhance the banana, similar to the way espresso would in chocolate cake. If you don't have brown sugar, don't stress. You can achieve a very similar flavor by subbing in light brown sugar and adding 2 teaspoons unsulphured molasses to your batter.
Look for a few moist crumbs. While you definitely want your banana bread cooked through, you don’t want to bake it for too long. We recommend pulling it when a tester comes out with a few moist crumbs still attached; no one wants dry banana bread!

Adapt your banana bread.
Lots of banana breads add in spices, nuts, or chocolate chips. We love all those things—don’t get us wrong!—but we wanted the banana to be the star of this bread, so we kept it pure so that flavor could really shine. If you do prefer something extra in your bread, feel free to add 1 cup of your preferred mix-ins into the batter! One of our favorite variations? Adding walnuts and cinnamon, like we did in our banana nut bread.

Storage and freezing.
If you plan to eat your banana bread within a few days (we don’t blame you), you can store it in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. Want it to stay perfectly moist? Lay a paper towel in an airtight container (or storage bag), place the loaf on top of it, then layer another paper towel on top before sealing to keep air away. Alternatively, you can freeze your loaf by waiting for it to cool, wrapping in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then store in the freezer for around 3 months.

Made this? Let us know in the comments below.

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Prep Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Cal/Serv:
252

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • 1 1/2 c.

    (180 g.)all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp.

    baking soda

  • 1/2 tsp.

    kosher salt

  • 2

    large eggs

  • 3/4 c.

    (150 g.)dark brown sugar

  • 6 tbsp.

    unsalted butter, melted, cooled

  • 2 c.

    (460 g.) mashed ripe bananas (from about 4 large)

  • 2 tsp.

    pure vanilla extract

Directions

    1. Step1Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°. Grease an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" metal loaf pan with cooking spray and line with parchment, leaving an overhang on both long sides. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt until combined.
    2. Step2In a large bowl, whisk eggs, brown sugar, and butter until smooth. Add bananas and vanilla and whisk until well combined (batter will be slightly lumpy). Fold in dry ingredients until incorporated.
    3. Step3Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top with a rubber spatula.
    4. Step4Bake bread until risen, golden brown on top, and a tester inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, 50 to 60 minutes.
    5. Step5Let cool in pan at room temperature at least 1 hour. Using parchment overhang, lift bread out of pan and slice.

I Can’t Believe We Used This Many Bananas In Our New Banana Bread Recipe (3)

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Taylor Ann Spencer

Assistant Food Editor

Taylor Ann Spencer is the assistant food editor at Delish, where she develops recipes, creates recipe videos, and styles food. With a background in writing and theater as well as professional cooking, she enjoys sharing her love for global flavors and all things baking through informational posts, hosted videos, and just plain everyday conversations. When she's not cooking, she's brainstorming her next culinary mash-up. Mac 'n' cheese chili rellenos, anyone?

I Can’t Believe We Used This Many Bananas In Our New Banana Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What happens if I put too much banana in my banana bread? ›

Banana bread recipes typically ask you to use overripe bananas so that they're easier to mush. This means it's tempting to toss all your bananas into the mix when you're ready to bake, to avoid food waste. But if you add too much of the fruit into your batter, your bread could turn out mushy, heavy, and wet.

At what point should you not use bananas for banana bread? ›

While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten. Another sign that bananas have gone bad is if they start leaking any fluids. When in doubt, just toss the bananas out.

Can you use moldy bananas for banana bread? ›

If black bananas are spotted with mold, then it's time to step away! You absolutely should not use them for banana bread or consume them at all. At that point, it's wise to consign them to the trash can or compost.

What happens if you add an extra egg to banana bread? ›

Adding more eggs makes for a spongy, less flavorful banana bread. Doubling the number of eggs I was using resulted in a spongy cake with a moist texture. While the banana flavor was present, it wasn't as prominent as it was in other loaves. This had more of a hint of flavor.

Should you keep banana bread in the fridge or pantry? ›

Never store it in the refrigerator. A refrigerator circulates cool air, which removes moisture and can prematurely dry breads and cakes. Place your cooled loaf on a plate and cover it in plastic wrap, or store it in an airtight container. Store it for up to four days on your counter.

How black is too black for banana bread? ›

The best bananas for banana bread aren't yellow; they're black. Or they're at least streaked with black/brown, with just the barest hint of green at the stem. And again, the darker the better: there's no such thing as a too-ripe banana when you're making banana bread.

How long to let banana bread rest? ›

Let it cool for 10 minutes — this helps the loaf solidify and makes it easier to remove from the pan. Remove from pan and cool another 10 minutes. Grasping the parchment paper sling, lift the loaf out of the pan and place on the cooling rack. Cool for another 10 minutes before slicing.

Why does banana bread need to be refrigerated? ›

Le says refrigerating banana bread will inhibit the growth of mold that can occur at room temperature and will increase its shelf life by up to a week. So if you need to store banana bread for more than a few days, choose the refrigerator.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Bananas are safe for dogs, but moderation is key. Bananas are high in sugar, so too much of it can put your dog at risk of developing medical conditions. You should give your dog only a few thin slices of banana once in a while. At least 90% of your dog's food should be regular dog food.

Can you eat a banana if the peel is moldy? ›

If you notice any mold on your bananas, it's time to throw them away or toss them in the compost bin. The black skin itself is not mold. Mold on bananas is fuzzy white, gray, or greenish—it looks a lot like mold on bread. If a banana smells rotten or fermented or is leaking fluid, it's time to say goodbye.

When to not eat a banana? ›

Mold on bananas is fuzzy white, gray, or greenish—it looks a lot like mold on bread. If a banana smells rotten or fermented or is leaking fluid, it's time to say goodbye. If the fruit inside, not just the peel, is black, that's a sign that your banana is too far gone to safely eat.

Are overripe bananas bad for you? ›

According to a spokesperson for the FDA, "Generally, as long as it is not visibly moldy, it is safe." Rogers concurs, saying he hasn't seen any studies linking foodborne illness to eating extremely ripe bananas.

Why does my banana bread get moldy so fast? ›

The longer it sits in the pan, the soggier the bottom will become. Allow the bread to cool completely on a cooling rack before wrapping it in plastic wrap or transferring it to an airtight container. Warm bread wrapped in plastic wrap leads to condensation which leads to mold.

What to do if banana bread is mushy? ›

Using a lot of bananas adds excess moisture, and there are two ways to get rid of it. You could either add more flour or increase the baking time.

How do you know if bananas are too bad for banana bread? ›

Mold on bananas is fuzzy white, gray, or greenish—it looks a lot like mold on bread. If a banana smells rotten or fermented or is leaking fluid, it's time to say goodbye. If the fruit inside, not just the peel, is black, that's a sign that your banana is too far gone to safely eat.

Why did my banana bread deflate after baking? ›

If your oven has not reached the correct baking temperature before the banana bread is placed in the oven, the banana bread will be undercooked and more likely to sink. I like to use a hanging oven thermometer placed inside my oven to see if the oven has reached the correct temperature.

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