Name: Perfect Old-Fashioned Banana Bread – banana bread easy recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup unsalted butter, softened; ¾ cup brown sugar; 2 large eggs, room temp; 2 ⅓ cups mashed overripe bananas (about 4 bananas)

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If you’re anything like me, you probably have a couple of bananas turning spotty on the counter right now. Don’t toss them—they’re banana bread gold. I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count, usually when I’m trying to convince myself I’m being healthy because hey, there’s fruit in it. This banana bread doesn’t pretend to be anything fancy. It’s moist, tender, and hits that sweet spot between cake and bread. The kind that fills your kitchen with the smell of warm cinnamon and memories of someone’s grandma. It’s the best kind of simple. Whether you bake for stress relief or just because you want something sweet with your coffee, this one’s a keeper. You can even sneak in chocolate chips or switch up the flour—just don’t skip those ripe bananas. They’re doing the heavy lifting here.

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

1) Key Takeaways

Uses overripe bananas for a sweet, tender loaf
One bowl, no mixer needed
Customizable with chocolate chips or nuts
Freezes well and stays good for days

2) Easy Perfect Old-Fashioned Banana Bread Recipe

Let’s talk about banana bread. You know the kind, the one with that soft middle, a hint of crunch on the crust, and a smell that wraps your whole kitchen like a warm hug. This isn’t a banana bread easy recipe that asks you to be fancy. It’s the kind of thing you pull together when you’ve got bananas going south and you’re tired of smoothies.

I’ve baked it with toddlers banging on mixing bowls. I’ve pulled it from the oven while still in pajamas at 3 PM. It always delivers. Two ripe bananas? Use them. Four? Use them too. This banana bread recipe easy quick to mix and hits every time, especially when you sneak in a few chocolate chips or swap in oat flour.

If your mornings need a win or your afternoon needs comfort, this loaf’s got you. I always go back to this easy banana bread recipe no vanilla when I want flavor without fuss. It’s a little sweet, a little old-school, and all the way good.

3) Ingredients for Perfect Old-Fashioned Banana Bread

All-purpose flour gives the bread structure. I’ve used oat flour in a pinch too—it works if you’re after a banana bread recipe easy oat flour style. Either way, sift it if you can.

Baking soda brings the rise. Just a teaspoon will do. No need for baking powder here. It’s old-fashioned for a reason.

Salt balances everything. Just a pinch. Don’t skip it unless bland bread is your thing.

Unsalted butter brings the richness. Let it soften first—it mixes better when it’s not rock-hard. Some folks melt it. I say go with your gut.

Brown sugar gives a deeper sweetness. You’ll want it packed in. It adds that little caramel edge we all secretly love.

Eggs bind the loaf. Room temperature works best, but don’t stress it. I’ve used cold eggs straight from the fridge more than once.

Mashed bananas are the heart. The darker and softer, the better. If you’re not using overripe bananas, you’re missing the point.

4) How to Make Perfect Old-Fashioned Banana Bread

Step 1 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a loaf pan. Lining it with parchment makes cleanup easier, but it’s not mandatory.

Step 2 In a bowl, whisk your flour, baking soda, and salt together. This takes less than a minute and saves you from clumps later.

Step 3 In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar. It should look soft and light. A fork works fine. No mixer needed.

Step 4 Add the eggs. Mix until it looks smooth. Then add mashed bananas. Stir again. You want it well-blended but not whipped.

Step 5 Combine the dry ingredients with the wet. Fold gently. Overmixing will make it dense, and you want tender.

Step 6 Pour the batter into the pan. Give it a little shake to settle. You can add a few slices of banana on top if you’re feeling artsy.

Step 7 Bake for about 60 minutes. Start checking around the 50-minute mark. A toothpick should come out with crumbs, not batter.

5) Tips for Making Perfect Old-Fashioned Banana Bread

Use the ripest bananas you’ve got. If they’re too mushy to eat, they’re perfect here. This tip turns a basic banana bread easy recipe into a great one.

Don’t overmix the batter. Once the flour goes in, stir just until combined. Think fewer turns, softer loaf.

If your bananas aren’t ripe yet, throw them in a 300-degree oven for 15 minutes. Blackened skins? You’re ready to mash. Works like magic.

6) Making Perfect Old-Fashioned Banana Bread Ahead of Time

This is one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day. I usually bake it the night before I want it. Let it cool, wrap it up, and by morning the flavor has settled in.

If you’re prepping for a brunch or a bake sale, this bread won’t let you down. It’s a banana bread easy recipe chocolate chips easy to scale up. Just double it and use two loaf pans.

You can even mix the dry and wet ingredients separately and combine right before baking if you want fresh bread in the morning without measuring while sleepy.

7) Storing Leftover Banana Bread

Cool it completely first. Wrap it in foil or store it in an airtight container. Room temp is fine for a couple days.

<pIf you're not eating it soon, freeze individual slices. Wrap each in plastic, then foil, and stash them in a freezer bag. Reheat in a toaster oven or just let it sit out for an hour.

I’ve been known to eat it straight from the freezer. Not sorry. It’s still good.

8) Try these breads next!

9) Perfect Old-Fashioned Banana Bread