Description
Learn how to make delicious The Best Homemade Banana Bread. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¾ cups (220g) all-purpose flour (can substitute with whole wheat pastry flour for a nuttier flavor)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened (or use coconut oil for a dairy-free option)
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar (can reduce to ½ cup for less sweetness)
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups) – the riper, the better for sweetness and moisture
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (adds moisture and tang)
- Optional add-ins: ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This dry mix will help your loaf rise evenly.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. When I first started baking, this step taught me patience—it really makes a difference in texture.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
- Mix in the Greek yogurt or sour cream. This addition came from my years of tweaking recipes to get the perfect moist crumb—trust me, it’s a game-changer.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Overmixing is a common mistake I made early on, and it can lead to a dense loaf, so keep it gentle.
- If you’re adding nuts or chocolate chips, fold them in now.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Around the 50-minute mark, I like to check on the bread and tent it with foil if the top is browning too quickly.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps the banana bread set up nicely and makes slicing easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: The Best Homemade Banana Bread, recipe, cooking, food
