Banana bread is a crowd favorite. It’s even more of a favorite when it’s easy to make, am I right? This is the best banana bread recipe that my mom shared with me and I don’t dare look for another because it is that good. Try this easy banana bread recipe for yourself and let me know what you think!
Strangely I am not a huge fan of eating bananas plain as a fruit, but I absolutely love banana bread. It’s like my sister who hates cheese, but loves cheese pizza. In any case, this banana bread recipe is so easy to make and turns out so good too. I like how it doesn’t come out dense like some breakfast breads do. The banana is also not overpowering, but provides a light banana taste and the nuts (optional) add a nice bit of crunch in the bite.
If you have ripe, brown bananas lying around, this is a great recipe to put them to use. If you use green bananas, it will be extremely hard to mash them up, so best to wait a few days until they ripen.
To speed up the ripening process, you can put them in a brown paper bag and even add an already ripe banana to the bag. The ethylene gas will accumulate and help ripen your fruit. On the other hand, if you want to keep your bananas from over-ripening, you can put them in the refrigerator. The skins will turn brown in the cold temperature, but it will help the bananas from ripening.
When to make banana bread
- Bring to a tea party as a complement to drinking tea
- Bake them for your breakfast treat-easy to slice up and eat on your way to work in the mornings
- Gift a loaf to your neighbor who needs a pick-me-up
- Bring a loaf sliced up to work instead of donuts. It is a slightly healthy alternative and you’ll be a new favorite in the office!
- It’s a great snack to bring when going on a hiking or camping trip- it’ll give you that boost of potassium when you need it
The details
This paragraph won’t last long because this banana bread recipe is the easiest to bake. Grab a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients, pour the batter into a loaf pain, and bake. That’s it! You don’t need a mixer or wait for the bread to rise. Just mix and bake!
Bake your bread with stoneware
Baking with stoneware is a complete game changer. It helps your food cook evenly throughout without getting the burnt edges or bottom. It is perfect to use when baking bread, cookies, or pizza. It is a magical stone that doesn’t even need to be sprayed down with aerosol spray before pouring in your batter! No spray and easy cleanup? It can’t get better than that! My favorite stoneware is made by The Pampered Chef.
Stoneware is made from a natural clay and when fired it becomes nonporous so your food won’t get into the surfaces. The clay turns into a stone as the word suggests, so it isn’t manufactured with lead like some pans and dishes contain.
However, since it is a stone you do not want to wash your stoneware with soap as it can ruin the surfaces. You will want to wash it with warm water or using a baking soda paste by combining 3 tbsp water with 1/2 cup baking soda and letting it stand for 15 minutes before washing it under warm water.
Make your banana bread a little healthier
- Want to make it heart healthy? Omit the salt and add in the nuts. The nuts are a great source of omega 3s which can help with heart health. The Mayo Clinic advises it can help reduce triglycerides and slow plaque build up. Omega 3s in nuts can also reduce joint pain related to arthritis.
- Reduce the amount of sugar in your batter. I use a 1/2 cup which is about half than what most traditional banana bread recipes call for. The bananas add enough sweetness for me. I will always suggest this change for my diabetic patients for better glucose control.
Take a look at the recipe below. I guarantee you won’t be able to mess this recipe up since it is so easy to make. I hope you enjoy it!
Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 bananas mashed
- 4 oz unsalted butter melted, cooled
- 1 egg well beaten
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350 degrees.
- Mix the bananas, egg, and butter together.
- Stir in the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Add in the chopped nuts and mix.
- Pour the mixed batter into a loaf pan and bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
- I add in much less sugar than most banana bread recipes call for, so if you want sweeter bread you may add in 1/4-1/2 cup more of sugar
- Use ripened bananas in your recipe, it will make the bread taste sweeter so then you won't have to add in as much sugar
- Use stoneware for your loaf pan. It will help your bread cook more evenly throughout without burning the edges or bottom
- If you don't like walnuts, feel free to use an alternative nut such as pecans or omit nuts all together
2 Comments
Love this recipe! No other like it!
Easiest of all banana bread recipes I have seen, a little longer to prepare than box but tastes soooo much better. Turned out great! Keeping this recipe in the arsenal!