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Quick Breads

Best Banana Bread

June 27, 2022

I'm a self-taught baker, recipe developer, photographer and writer in Brooklyn, New York. 

eric king

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the cross-section of a loaf of banana bread with a stack of slices in the background and a small knife next to it

There is no shortage of banana bread recipes on the internet. However, for classic recipes like this, when facing down the thousands of options, analysis paralysis can strike, and it can be really hard to find one you love and trust. Let me take out the work of searching and sifting through those recipes, and introduce you to, in my view, the last you’ll need: my ultra-moist banana bread.

I would consider this a very bakery-style banana bread: rich, moist, with deep flavor from lots of brown sugar and a confident amount of bananas. I like making quick breads like banana bread in a pullman loaf tin, which is more squared off and narrow, producing a taller loaf, instead of a 9×5-inch tin. This is purely for aesthetic reasons — you can use whatever loaf tin you have.

a stack of slices of banana bread, slightly staggered, takes up the whole photo

Here are 3 tips for making ultra-moist banana bread:

1. When it comes to bananas, size matters. Get your head out of the gutter! This recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of ripe, mashed bananas. However, depending on their size, you may need anywhere from three, four, or maybe even five bananas. I would recommend double checking and measuring your mashed bananas with a measuring cup.

2. Not sure if it’s done? Take its temp! Quick breads like banana bread take a long-ish time to bake. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if they’re done, even if you use a cake tester or wooden skewer. If you have a digital food thermometer, stick it in the center of the bread and it should read between 200°F and 205°F.

3. How ripe is ripe enough? We’re not looking for bananas with just a few brown spots dotting them. Bananas are perfect for bread when they are mostly brown because that’s when they release the most juices, lending more flavor and moistness to the final product.

a slice of banana bread with a smear of butter sits on a blue dessert plate with a small knife next to it.

(Did you make my best banana bread? I want to see! Tag me on Instagram and TikTok @easygayoven!)

Ultra-Moist Banana Bread

Print Recipe
My best banana bread is very much bakery-style: rich, moist, with deep flavor from lots of brown sugar and a confident amount of bananas.
Course Breakfast, Snack
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 10
Author Eric King

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (293 grams)
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter gently melted (113 grams)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (110 grams)
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar (150 grams)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 or 4 large bananas)
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup Greek yogurt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Grease a 9×5-inch loaf tin with butter or baking spray and line with parchment paper.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add the sugars, melted butter then whisk to combine. Add the eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
  • To the sugar mixture, add the vegetable oil and Greek yogurt. Mix until smooth.
  • Add in the flour to the wet ingredients in three batches, using a whisk or rubber spatula to mix just until no streaks of flour remain before the next addition. A few lumps are okay.
  • Pour the batter evenly into the prepared tin. With a butter knife, draw a line lengthwise down the middle.
  • Bake for about 1 hour, or until a wooden skewer or cake tester comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
  • Transfer to a wire rack for 5 minutes and then let cool completely on a wire rack.
the cross-section of a loaf of banana bread with  a fallen slice in front of it

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  1. Kristen says:

    Truly the best banana bread. I used sour cream because I didn’t have Greek yogurt and it still came out very moist and delicious. I love that it calls for melted butter and not softened, I’m too impatient for that. My new go to recipe.

  2. Anna Petrow says:

    5 stars
    My most reliable banana bread recipe! So much depth of flavor but super simple to pull together. It’s perfect!

  3. Cynthia P says:

    5 stars
    This banana bread recipe is a showstopper! We have been on the hunt for a moist, flavorful and easy banana bread recipe for years and we finally found it! Highly recommend this as a staple in your recipe book!

  4. Marissa says:

    5 stars
    I made this last night…I was naughty and added chocolate chips, but how fabulous! The perfect slightly cinnamon/butter base for the bananas to shine. Saving as my go-to banana bread recipe!

  5. 5 stars
    Such an approachable, easy recipe with bakery quality results! I loved making this. It is perfect with butter and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

  6. Simón Sotillo says:

    Q pasa si no le pongo yogur?.

    • Eric King says:

      The bread won’t be as moist, and also won’t rise as much since the yogurt interacts with the baking soda. Sour cream is a good substitute.

      —Eric

  7. kat says:

    5 stars
    the best banana bread ever! my family doesn’t let me try new recipes now, the most moist and flavorful loaf 10/10 ! also what i like to is add granulated sugar on top which gives it a nice sugary crust to it 😉

    also i have a question? approximately how long can it be let out in room temperature and how much in the refrigerator?

  8. tina says:

    5 stars
    i had my own go-to trusty banana bread recipe for ages, but i cracked and finally tried yours because, well, just look at that blog photo. i mean, it’s perfect. needless to say, it was a massive crowd pleaser. all my family and friends loved the taste and texture very much, and so do i. i came across your website a while ago and so far, i’ve not been disappointed by a single recipe. confetti cookies? amazing. snickerdoodles? phenomenal. anyway, thank you for introducing me to this ultimate recipe. i’m happy to say it’s now my true favorite.

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