Simple Basic Banana Bread Recipe

Name: Simple Basic Banana Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter; 1 cup granulated sugar; 2 eggs; 1 cup mashed banana ((2 medium ripe bananas)); 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp baking powder

January 7, 2020 *Updated* September 26, 2020 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 109 Comments

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Simple Basic Banana Bread says it all. Basic ingredients. Simple to make. The old-fashioned classic never goes out of style.

This banana quick bread only uses 5 ingredients. Not too sweet. Filled with dark flecks. Moist and delicious. The perfect way to use up ripe bananas.

Overhead shot of Simple Basic Banana Bread sliced on a serving plate.

I LOVE when the simple things in life give us so much pleasure. You know what I am talking about. Those simple yet so delicious foods grandma used to make.

Minimal ingredients. Minimal effort. The BEST banana bread turns out moist and delicious every time.

RECIPE and INSTRUCTION for this easy banana bread can be found at the bottom of this post.

Back in the day when gramma had NO FANCY equipment to help her mix, cut or even measure the correct temperature. NO GOURMET ingredients, just simple, basic stuff out of the garden and a few standard store staples.

You Will Need:

butter
sugar
eggs
mashed bananas (nice really ripe bananas work best)
flour
baking powder
baking soda
salt

This ultimate banana bread recipe is a reflection of those good old days. The days when food was a labour of love. When some of the best dinners were made with only a few ingredients, yet they tasted as if they came out of a Michelin Star restaurant.

How ripe should bananas be for baking? For baking, ripe bananas are best. They usually are soft to the touch with LOTS of black spots on the peel.

How do you ripen bananas quickly? You can place them in a paper bag for 1-2 days.

To ripen bananas in the oven, warm unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet for 15-20 minutes at 250ºF (and cool before using).

Bananas getting mashed with a fork in a bowl

To ripen bananas in the microwave, with a fork or knife, poke through the peel on all sides. Place the banana in the microwave for 30 second intervals until they soften.

Can you freeze ripe bananas? Yes, all you have to do is peel them and place them in freezer bags for use later.

Mashed bananas getting added to the rest of the bread ingredients.

Making This Easy Banana Bread Recipe

You don’t need fancy equipment. I used a *(affiliate) handheld mixer. I know gramma would have only used a *(affiliate) wooden spoon.

in a small bowl mash the bananas with a fork
in a large bowl cream the butter and sugar
add the eggs
add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt
mix in the mashed bananas
put the batter in a *(affiliate) loaf pan
bake

Banana batter getting put into a baking pan ready for the oven.

This recipe is PERFECT for anyone just learning to bake. Only a few ingredients, simple directions and DELICIOUS results.

My grandkids beg me to make this ALL the time. My grandson has a hard time deciding between this and baked pumpkin donuts as his favourite snack.

Recipe Tips

Do not over mix, it will create a solid batter. This is a quick bread recipe and does not require thorough mixing of ingredients. Overmixing will cause the bread to not rise properly, and be under baked.
Be sure to test your bread for doneness BEFORE the allotted baking time. You don’t want to over bake it. I use a *(affiliate) cake tester.
Use the exact amount of bananas stated in the recipe. If you add more, the bread will be very dense.

How do you store banana bread?

I like to leave it on the wrapped on the counter. Have you tried *(affiliate) Abeego beeswax wraps? They are AMAZING. The bread is kept fresh for 3-4 days, AND these are environmentally friendly. We all need to pitch in and help save the planet. You can also keep it wrapped in the fridge for longer storage.

Can you freeze banana bread?

Yes, you sure can. I like to make several loaves at a time. You can freeze the whole loaf by tightly covering in food film. Or, you can slice it, and wrap up individual slices.

Can you make muffins instead of bread?

Absolutely. Pour the batter into a *(affiliate) muffin pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes.

Why does my bread crack on top?

This happens when the loaf continues to rise after the top has set. Don’t worry, it will still be moist and delicious.

Are banana cake and bread the same?

Traditionally banana cake is lighter and bread is denser making it easier to slice. Both incorporate mashed bananas.

Still looking for some delicious banana recipes? I have a few right here:

You can never go wrong with this Best Banana Cake recipe. It is a secret family recipe.
Rocky Road Banana Bread is decadent and delicious.
How about a banana split for breakfast? A healthy way to start the day.
Banana Popsicles are a huge hit in the summer.

If you love making quick bread, here are a few other recipes to try:

Gluten-Free Chocolate Zucchini is vegan and allergy-friendly.
Apple Cinnamon Bread is always and hit. The aroma as it bakes is so incredible.
Perfect or brunch or dessert, Blueberry Upside Down Quick Bread is so pretty on the plate.

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