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I have been using this banana bread recipe for thirty years. It has amazing texture and flavor. And I know that you will agree that this recipe makes the very BEST banana bread.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This truly is the BEST recipe ever! I can call it that because my maiden name is Best – so I guess every recipe I have could be called the BEST recipe.
But seriously, this recipe is the BEST! I have been making this recipe for years years. The recipe came from one of those little softcover recipe books you can buy in the grocery store line.
Everyone I have ever made this bread for LOVES it and asks for the recipe.
Last summer when my friend’s teenage daughter had ACL repair surgery the one thing she asked for after her surgery was my banana bread. Of course there was a warm loaf waiting for her when she got home from the hospital.
Ingredients Needed
- Ripe Bananas
- Sugar
- Oil. I use canola oil but you can use any mild oil such as vegetable, avocado or sunflower oil. You can use butter if you prefer but I think the oil really gives this bread great texture.
- Eggs
- Sour cream. You can also use plain yogurt.
- Vanilla Extract
- Flour. My preference is unbleached all purpose flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
How to Make Best Banana Bread Recipe
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour bottom of 9 x 5″ loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together sugar and oil. Add in eggs, banana, sour cream and vanilla. Blend well.
- Whisk in flour, baking soda and salt and stir until dry ingredients are moistened.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes of until a toothpick comes out clean
- Cool 5 minutes and remove from pan. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack on the counter.
Tips from Leigh Anne
- I like to mix my banana bread by hand instead of in a stand mixer. This prevents you from over mixing the batter which can cause the banana read to become tough in texture.
- My favorite way to enjoy banana bread is to slice it warm and add a bit of butter on top!
We love to add chocolate chips to this recipe. Nuts are great too. Just add 1 cup of either or 1/2 cup of each if you would like to use both.
If you love cinnamon, add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in with dry ingredients. Cinnamon and chocolate chips together is also a great combination.
You can also make a dozen muffins with this recipe. Just pour batter into a prepared (greased or lined) muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make mini loaves of banana bread?
This recipe will make about 3 mini loaves of banana bread. Baking time will be about 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
How do you store leftover bread?
Store the bread wrapped in plastic wrap or in a zippered plastic bag at room temperature. It will last 3-4 days.
To freeze bread: Allow to cool completely and then wrap it airtight in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What is the best way to mash bananas?
If your bananas are really ripe you won’t have to mash them, just squeeze them out of the skin directly into the batter. For firmer bananas, mash them by placing them in a bowl and use your hand mixer to beat them until the desired consistency. If you want chunks of banana in your bread don’t beat it as much and leave it somewhat chunky. Beat it smooth if you don’t want chunks of banana in your bread.
Can I use frozen banana?
You can but allow it to thaw at room temperature first before adding it into batter.
Check out more of my other favorite quick bread recipes:
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Best Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup mashed ripe banana
- 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour bottom of 9 x 5″ loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together sugar and oil. Add in eggs, banana, sour cream and vanilla. Blend well.
- Add in flour, baking soda and salt and stir until dry ingredients are moistened.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes of until a toothpick comes out clean
- Cool 5 minutes and remove from pan. Cool completely. Makes 1 loaf.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Facts:
Nancy Sweet says
Made this-love it!!! Turned out so moist. Will be making this again.
Leigh Anne says
So glad you loved it too! It really is the best banana bread ever!
Lori says
My daughter made this recipe last night. She doubled it and made muffins! Divine! Love your recipes.
Erika says
I found this on Pinterest ! I followed the the whole recipie except I didn’t have sour cream, I had a bunch of plain Greek yogurt… I used that and it came out fantastic! Thank you for this!
Leigh Anne says
Erika, SO glad you loved the recipe too!
Jazzmin Kaita says
Your banana bread recipe looks amazing! I love when recipes have sour cream in them, it makes them nice and moist! I was wondering how long do you beat together the sugar and oil for? I’m always really confused when recipes call for this step? How long did you beat the sugar and oil for? Will the banana bread not turn out if you beat that step for to long? Also at this step when you beat the sugar and oil, did you use a hand mixer? Was the mixture gritty, like can you feel the sugar when you rub it with your fingers or does it have to be completely smooth? I’m new at baking and I can’t wait to try your recipe! I’m planning on making it this Sunday! Thank you!
Leigh Anne says
Jazzmin, I just beat the sugar and oil together until they are combined. I use my Kitchen Aid to mix them together.
Jazzmin Kaita says
Thank you for replying! I just made your banana bread recipe and its baking in the oven right now! It smells so good! My banana bread batter was lumpy and when I poured it in the pan there was still small pockets of flour, I hope that is okay,
Joy says
My mouth is watering just reading these posts! I am a visual person, so when I want to try a new dish I simply type it into Google and hit images. My eyes targeted your bread immediately for its light color and clear moisture! Upon reading the comments I knew I HAD to try this. Lucky for me, I have 4 brownish bananas on the counter. Hit “print”, run to printer, start baking! My 16 year old daughter will love this for a snack after school. That is, if I can keep myself from eating it. Off to cook now …! Thank you!
Leigh Anne says
Hope you love it as much as we do!!!