Name: Banana Bread Easy Recipe That Tastes Like Childhood in Every Bite
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 3 ripe bananas, mashed; 1/2 cup melted butter; 3/4 cup sugar; 1 egg, beaten; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt

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You know those days when life feels a bit off and you just want something familiar? This banana bread easy recipe is my go-to for a little cozy comfort. I swear, it smells like hugs from the oven. And the best part? It’s not fussy. You don’t need a mixer, fancy ingredients, or a culinary degree—just a bowl, a spoon, and a few overly spotty bananas that were moments away from compost. We’ve all been there. I’ve played around with dozens of variations over the years, but this one is the sweet spot. It’s soft and flavorful, the kind that makes neighbors wander over when it’s cooling on the windowsill. There’s something wholesome about how it holds together—moist (in the best way), lightly sweet, and with a texture that dances between cakey and tender. Whether you’re baking with kids, stashing slices for the week, or sneaking warm chunks straight from the pan, this quick and easy banana bread recipe is a quiet little victory for your day.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Banana Bread Recipe
3) Ingredients for Banana Bread
4) How to Make Banana Bread
5) Tips for Making Banana Bread
6) Making Banana Bread Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Banana Bread
8) Try these bread recipes next!
9) Banana Bread Recipe
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This banana bread easy recipe is ready in just over an hour.
No mixer needed—just ripe bananas, a bowl, and a spoon.
Perfect for kids, beginners, and banana hoarders alike.
Customizable with chocolate chips, walnuts, or a cinnamon swirl.

2) Easy Banana Bread Recipe

Some mornings call for cereal. Others beg for a banana bread easy recipe that fills your kitchen with a warm scent that could soften the grumpiest mood. I’ve used this exact recipe after long weeks, cold weekends, or just when those bananas turned more brown than yellow. It never disappoints.

What I love most is how it feels almost too easy. You mash, you stir, you bake. Yet what comes out of the oven tastes like comfort in loaf form. You get that golden, tender crust, and the inside stays soft, thanks to all that ripe banana goodness.

I’ve made this while half-asleep, while wrangling toddlers, and even during one power outage (thank you, gas oven). It’s forgiving, friendly, and filled with banana flavor. If you’re hunting for quick and easy banana bread recipes, this one should be your first stop.

3) Ingredients for Banana Bread

3 ripe bananas, mashed – These are the stars of the show. The darker the skin, the sweeter the flavor. Just mash ’em well with a fork.

1/2 cup melted butter – Brings richness and flavor. I use unsalted, but if salted is all you have, go for it and skip the pinch of salt later.

3/4 cup sugar – Sweet but not too sweet. You could reduce it slightly if your bananas are extra ripe.

1 egg, beaten – Helps hold it all together and adds a bit of moisture too.

1 teaspoon vanilla extract – Rounds out the flavor and gives it that bakery smell we all crave.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour – Your base. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat.

1 teaspoon baking soda – This gives our loaf its rise. Skip it and you’ll have banana brick.

1/2 teaspoon salt – Balances the sweetness and wakes up the banana flavor.

4) How to Make Banana Bread

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Or line it with parchment if you’re not into scrubbing dishes later.

Step 2. In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in the melted butter. Don’t worry about it looking pretty—it’ll taste great.

Step 3. Add sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla. Mix until it’s smooth-ish. A few banana lumps are totally okay.

Step 4. Sprinkle in the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir just until combined. Overmixing is where things go wrong—trust me, I’ve been there.

Step 5. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Use a spatula to scrape every last bit. Don’t waste banana gold.

Step 6. Bake for 55 minutes. Start checking at 50. A toothpick should come out clean, with maybe a few crumbs clinging on.

Step 7. Let it cool a bit before slicing. Or don’t. I’ve burnt my fingers more than once rushing for that first warm piece.

5) Tips for Making Banana Bread

Banana bread isn’t complicated, but it does like a little care. If your bananas are underripe, pop them in the oven at 300°F for 15 minutes—skin and all. They’ll soften and sweeten fast.

Want it lighter? Swap half the flour with oat flour. Want a deeper flavor? Brown your butter before mixing it in. Want to keep it dairy-free? Use oil or even almond milk instead of regular milk. This easy banana bread recipe with milk is flexible enough for little experiments.

Don’t toss in frozen bananas without thawing them. They’ll release too much water and throw off the texture. Ask me how I know.

6) Making Banana Bread Ahead of Time

This banana bread holds up beautifully when made in advance. In fact, it tastes even better the next day. I often bake a loaf at night, let it cool, and wrap it tightly in foil. By morning, it’s set and easy to slice.

For freezing, I wrap individual slices and store them in a zip bag. They reheat perfectly in the toaster oven. This is how I survive school mornings.

If you’re prepping for guests or brunch, go ahead and bake it the day before. You won’t lose a thing flavor-wise. Some say it’s even better after sitting overnight.

7) Storing Leftover Banana Bread

Keep any leftover banana bread in an airtight container at room temp for 3 days. After that, it’s best to refrigerate it. A quick warm-up in the microwave brings back the cozy vibe.

Got a full loaf and no one around to help eat it? Slice and freeze it. Future you will thank you. Especially when the late-night munchies hit and you remember there’s banana bread waiting.

Just don’t store it unwrapped or uncovered. That’ll dry it out faster than you can say banana.

8) Try these bread recipes next!

9) Banana Bread Recipe