Last updated on April 16th, 2025
This easy, moist banana bread recipe contains ingredients that you will more than likely have in your cupboard already – perfect for those times when you’re expecting visitors to pop in but have got nothing in the house except from overripe bananas. What’s more, a piece of moist and delicious banana bread is irresistible to most!
This banana bread recipe is one of those that never lets you down – it is really forgiving and always seems to come out perfectly. It’s soft, moist, and just sweet enough. I like to eat it warm with butter but you could easily toast it and smear with peanut butter, or eat it straight from the pan with a fork, zero judgment – my kids do that sometimes too!
Ingredients needed to make banana bread:
- butter or margarine
- castor sugar (white or brown sugar is okay though)
- flour
- eggs
- ripe bananas
- vanilla essence
- bicarbonate of soda
- baking powder
Banana Bread Questions and Answers:
My bananas aren’t ripe enough. Can I still use them?
I honestly wouldn’t – wait for them to ripen!
Can I use frozen bananas?
Yes but thaw them first and drain off any excess liquid. They’ll be mushy and weird-looking, but perfect for baking.
Why is my banana bread dry?
A few possible reasons:
- Not enough banana
- Too much flour (scoop and level it—don’t pack it!)
- Overbaking—check your oven temp and start testing around 50 minutes
Can I make it without eggs?
You can although I haven’t personally tried it. Try one of these swaps per egg:
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce…or
- 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water (let it sit 5 mins)
Can I make it gluten-free?
Yes! Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that includes xanthan gum. Almond flour won’t work as a straight substitute though—it’s better in combo with other flours.
Can I reduce the sugar?
I would reduce it only by a 1/4 or up to 1/3. More than that and it will affect the outcome of the banana bread in a not-so-nice way. Sugar is required to provide structure to the cake.
Can I add other ingredients like nuts or chocolate?
Yes you can totally add nuts or choc chips. I would say about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of extras like chopped walnuts, pecans, choc chips, or even dried fruit works great. Fold them in just before baking.
Why did my banana bread sink in the middle?
Usually from underbaking or too much liquid. Make sure your baking soda is fresh and your loaf bakes fully before pulling it out. Nevertheless, it will sill taste good!!
Can I make muffins instead?
Absolutely! Just divide the batter into a lined muffin tin and bake at 350°F or 180C for 20-25 minutes.
How should I store banana bread?
I usually keep mine in a tin but you can also wrap it tightly (once cooled) and keep it at room temp for up to 3 days. After that, refrigerate or freeze. It stays super moist, even after thawing!
Can I Freeze banana Bread?
This bread freezes like a dream—slice it first, wrap in foil or zip bags, and toast when you need a cozy snack.
Got only two bananas?
It still works. Add a splash of milk or yogurt if it seems dry
Banana Bread
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
A classic banana bread recipe that you will make over and over again!
Ingredients
- 125g butter or margarine
- 1 cup castor sugar (white or brown sugar is okay though)
- 2 cups flour
- 2 eggs
- 3 large bananas, mashed
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C or 350F
- Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs one at a time and beat well.
- Add bananas and vanilla and fold in dry ingredients.
- Bake in a greased loaf tin for 45-50 minutes.
- Variation: Grate an apple or pear or some carrot as well and put in the mixture.
Notes
Variation:Grate an apple or pear or some carrot as well and put in the mixture.
MMMMMMMMMM….your banana bread looks so tempting & tasty!
If you decide to make it, let us know how it turned out 😉
Have made the banana bread – mixture tasted delicious pre cooking, but no ways 45 mins – am on 55 mins and still not cooked on inside – thermofan oven at 180!!!
55 – 60 mins is perfect!!
Planning on making it tonight. My mother has been begging me to make her banana bread. Will let you all know how it turns out tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Okay i baked the bread and…. It was Perfect, at least that is what every one is telling me. It was no easy task though, nothing to with recipe, all to do with my oven. Need less to say it came out the way it looks in the picture. Sooo Yummy
I made this yesterday, its a great recipe, the kids and the adults loved it! Thank you for sharing.
PS. I added chocolate chips….
tried the banana loaf and it was easy, uncomplicated and turned out very very nice and moist
This is the best recipe I have ever made. I have made this at work almost everyday and it never fails! I’ve started making it in the muffin pans and it comes out fantastic. Thank you!!
i love banana bread, i found yours easy and Fantastic. my boyfriend and i have the whole loaf for dinner. thank you
I make this everytime there is a family event or just a couple of banana’s laying arounds. Its absolutately devine and always get good feed back.
Delicious recipe and works everytime! I try to vary by adding some nuts, cinnamon, etc.
I am a very opportunistic and unconventional cook. Looked in my cupboards and didn’t have the baking powder, the bicarb or the butter. I did have half a pineapple, a whole apple and 4 over ripe bananas, which is why I looked up a recipe in the first place. I used rice oil for butter and half self rising and half wholewheat flour and it rose so beautifully and tasted world class, oh and I also found half a cup of almond flakes.
Can I substitute the marg with oil perhaps?
Delicious and so easy to make. Big hit with the whole family. Had never made banana bread before, but this recipe came out perfect, first time – looking exactly like the picture.
Highly recommended!
Em says: it is a great recipe and I added some pecan nuts (chopped
I’m going to make this tonight, I will let you know how it turns out! Love this one because the ingredients are simple and I already have them all at home! So, fingers crossed it works out well!
Tried it four times already & the results are always WOW!!..Thanks!!
I absolutley love banana bread!!!! i made it the other day it was divine!!! thank you so much for the recipe and it is quick and easy and most of all dilishes!
does it matter what type of flour i use?
any flour will do!
This is the best and easy banana bread I freeze slices for the kids lunch boxes very convenient Tx for a great recipe
i am not a lover of banana bread as when you buy it in the sphops it very dry. i made this banana bread and all my friend and working friend where so impressed with it as it is moist, that i have to make 1 ever friday for the ladies at work. it is so good. full marks for this recipe
Thanks we had this cake and we enjoy it so easy to make. Over ripe bannanas and nothing went to waste.
How well will cinnamon work in this recipe??
Try it out, sure cinnamon will work really well!
Cinnamon will work really well with this recipe, even raisins, pecan nuts will go nicely.
it turned out fantastic!Everybody was raving about it.It was the best banana bread that I have ever tasted!Thanks for the excellent recipe!
Wow , just popped out the oven, adding whipped cream:) tastes amazing kids love it. Thank you!
Yummmmy 🙂
wow everytime i make your banana bread my friend always ask me y is so brown,hers never turned out 2 b brown.
wow…this recipe is on point. My friends cannot get enough. Thank you guys!
This is so easy to bake and it tastes better than any banana bread I’ve ever tried. Really nice thanks!
wow am put to loss at work after finding this website can’t wait to get trying, the reviews are great!! just one question a few off them just state flour, does that mean plain, self raisin, brown etc?? If I just went for plain flour everytime it wouldn’t affect the rising of bread/scones etc?! Sorry if I sound thick I’m a total beginner at this!!
Thanks 🙂
the recipe has baking powder in it so you can use plain flour…however if you used self-raising flour that would be fine too! 🙂
great thanks for getting back to me 🙂
I’m good @ baking bt this recipe is easy tt it makes me feel like a pro in baking.My Hubby can’t get enough of it!!
Thanks a lot!
Meant to say ‘not good @ baking’!!
tried it yesterday it was delicious. just got an sms from hubby to make it again today
I made this awesome banana bread today and added a grated apple and some cinnamon and we could not stop eating it. I have been asked to make more soon.
I made this into muffins and added grated apple. My kids just wanted to keep eating. Can’t wait to try it with carrots and apple for a different spin.
Awesome! I dont know how to bake but tried this and it came out awesome
Great Saturday morning little project, added raisins and finished it off with almond flakes. Wonderfully simple recipe. Family loved it. Thank you.
Can i use any sugar besides castor sugar and can i substistute marg’ with oil?
Hi Malin, you can use any sugar – I probably wouldnt use icing /powdered sugar though but Im sure brown sugar, white sugar or treacle sugar would be fine. I’m sure you caould substitute butter for oil although I have never tried it.
Was given bananas yesterday even tho i dont eat them so looked up a recipe for a banana loaf and chose yrs bcos it seemed straight forward. Used wholemeal flour and soft brown sugar and now just waiting for it to cool down. Looks good, smells good just got to eat it now!
This is soooooo easy and sooooooo lovely I’m no baker but my friends think I’m a pro after producing this :-))
Hi,
I have question on oven, My over is 32 ltrs Delonghi
When i tried your vanial cak recipe, at 180 degrees, the top burned but inside was still uncooked.
Then for second one i tried baking at 170, and it was ok but not to perfection.
Can you pls give me some tips on this on how to improvise,
Hi Garima, thanks for the question. I’m not an expert on ovens but sometimes the tops of my cakes get brown too quickly too! What I have done in the past is, covered the top with tinfoil or put a baking tray on a level above the one on which the cake is – in this way the cake is not directly exposed to the element and the top stays soft whilst the cake cooks through. Another thing is to perhaps check that your oven is calibrated correctly to degrees celsius.
I’m not much of a cook or baker but I stay at home now raising my lil infant and I want to up my cooking and baking skills. I’m about to try this recipe as it looks simple but I don’t have a loaf baking tray. What else can I use to put my mixture in?
Absolutely delicious….added a grated apple and a dash of cinnamon….and it was a hit!! Thanks for the great recipe….definately going to become a regular in my home
Absolutely wonderful and easy recipe!
Made it for my fiance yesterday and he loves it! Asked me to make it at least once a week.
Thanks for such an easy recipe!
Gonna try it soon 🙂 I love baking, this is my first banana bread recipe, though !! Just wanted to know for the sugar is it better to have castor sugar or is it just the same to have white or brown?
Excellent recipe … will def try again
I tried making this recipe after tasting Malva pudding at several restaurants. It was moist, sweet and absolutely delicious. This recipe receives two thumbs up from me. My family thanks you.
Thanks for the recipe my banana bread was perfect.Fantastic and moist!
Yummy! I added 1 grated apple and a tsp cinnamon.. WOW! It is absolutely delish. Thanks Stefania.
Im not a baker but I tried this recipe and it was divine. Thank u.
I’ve tried and tested many banana bread recipe’s, but this recipe is by far the best! I added the apple and cinnamon too, also used salted butter instead of margarine and it came out beautifully! Thanks for sharing! Found some of the best recipe’s on this site.
Nice recipe thanks I love it and use it all the time
Excellent recipe. Added a grated apple and a dash of cinnamon and it was a huge hit. With 3 boys only lasted an afternoon. Love Just easy recipes.
Thanks, lovely recipe! Added appel, walnuts, raisins & carrot! Nice!
I absolutely love it and my 5yr old son loves it,it’s so yummy
Hi Louise. Thank you for a great website with wonderful recipes. I have tried a few and they all turned out perfectly. I have so much bananas left over at school today,thought I could treat the kids tomorrow with banana cupcakes. Do you have a recipe for this, or could I use your banana loaf recipe and just put them into cupcake cups? I need to make enough for 300 kids?
Good day i just ised this recipe for the second time and it is a great recipe, added some cinemon and tastes excellent. Thanks
Good day i am an adveturer when it comes to baking and this recipe works great with a touch of cinemn and lemon juice. Thanks
awesome recipe that works for me. Have tried many banana bread recipes before which somehow didn’t work for me. But this recipe works every time.
I made this Banana bread so many times and even gave my sister the recipe. I only use your website for my baking now as none has ever flopped. I just stick to the recipe and then I look like the ultimate cake boss. 🙂
It was simply flawless yet so easy and effortless to make. Needless to say I was not worried about the calories and juat simply enjoyed the cake fully!
your recipe is great! after trying it I was almost convinced I am a chef very good
I can proudly say I make the best banana bread more than the ones we get at supermakerts. My fiance, my family and colleagues have stopped buying from the shops they prefer mine. . . Thank you sooooooo much!!!
I’m going to try tomorrow then I will come back to you
HMmm yummy i made this recipe for several times, even my mother in law loved it n asked me to write it down 4 her woow!! thank you Louise, my husband can’t wait to eat it again n my kids always ask me to make again and again, the simplest recipe ever thanks again!
remember put in baking power put in abit of milk so dont get that bitter taste
Hi i read your. Comment how much milk fid u add in
Hi i read your Comment how much milk did u add in with the baking powder please let me know asap
Winner! i made it so many times, and it is always good, I add a bit more bananas, and get 2 small loafs, 1 for my husband and one for my daughter, they don’t like sharing this 😉
Hi Louise,
I would just like to tell you that this recipe is a winner everytime. I have been using this recipe for Banana Bread for the last 4 years and everytime I make I get the best compliments. You are a superstar – love all of your recipes 🙂 Keep up the good work and looking forward to continue baking with you.
Cara Rose
Clearly i must be doing something wrong ;-(
Made this last night and came out humongous! Perhaps the recipe should be more specific and say the size baking tin to be used…or the fact that it can make 2 loaves, as the bread is definitely too thick! Looks like I’ve made a GMO banana loaf! lol
Just love your recipes…all of it! I have also played around with varieties and replaced the 1 cup flour with coconut flour…it’s also really good and nutty…no bitterness ever happened to me when using real butter in recipe.
This recipe does not cook in 45mins.
Hi Toni
From experience I know ovens may also differ in temperatures and also depends on the size of the oven.
I often time mine either 5-10 minutes earlier or later.
Thanks. I can see this a being useful.