Easy Banana Bread Recipe

MAKES: 1 loaf

PREP TIME: 10 min

TOTAL TIME: 70 min

COOK TIME: 60 min

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• ¾ cup light or dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt (or substitute sour cream)
• 2 cups mashed overripe banana (about 4 large)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

It’s time to use love magic:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 23 x 13 cm loaf pan with cooking spray or a little bit of butter.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Put it on the side.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar. Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat until smooth and almost fluffy, about 2 – 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating the first before adding the second. Add the yogurt, banana, and vanilla, and mix until well-combined. But remember to not to over mix.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until there are no floury pockets left.
5. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean, anywhere from 45-60 minutes depending on your oven. Check consistently past the 30 minute mark.
6. Set the pan on a wire rack and allow the bread to cool completely before removing. 

 

Cook with love and share with joy! Bon appetit!

 

3 Tips for Making the Perfect Banana Bread

• Don’t overmix the batter. This will result in a dense, dry crumb—you want it a little wet and airy.
• Don’t forget moisture. While you don’t want to go overboard (no one wants a raw loaf), a moist banana bread will include additional liquid to keep the bread even. Vegetable oil is common, and some, like the one below, use yogurt, but you could also use coconut oil for a vegan substitution.
• Use brown sugar, not white. Brown sugar is the superpower behind every soft, chewy cookie you’ve ever had, and it’s warm, molasses flavors make it a must-have in banana bread.

How to Store Banana Bread

Cover and store at room temperature for 2 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. Banana bread well-wrapped in wax wrap or foil can be frozen for up to 4 months. For easier enjoyment, slice the loaf before freezing.

5 Banana Bread Flavor Combinations and Recipes

• Banana bread with nuts. For added texture and soft crunch, add ¾ cup chopped nuts (walnuts are a traditional favorite, but pecans are great too) to the batter before baking.
• Banana bread with chocolate chips. Dark swirls of chocolate take banana bread to a more indulgent place: Add ¾ cup chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate chunks for a more structured chocolate presence; chips will melt quickly) to the batter before baking.
• Vegan banana bread. Though it gets its structure from eggs, banana bread can be made vegan using coconut oil and almond milk and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. The loaf will be a little denser, but still delicious.
• Gluten-free banana bread. To make gluten-free banana bread, substitute gluten-free flour into any recipe.
• Banana bread with toppings. If you like a bit of crunch on your quick breads, sprinkle Demerara sugar over the top of your banana bread before baking—it will create a caramelized, crackly top-crust. For an easy cream cheese frosting, beat 115 g cream cheese and ¼ cup unsalted butter together until smooth. Add 1 cup confectioners sugar, ½ tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, and continue to whip until well-combined and stiff. Spread over the top of a cooled loaf for an elegant presentation.