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The BEST Banana Bread Recipe
How to make the perfect moist and flavorful banana bread recipe that is worthy of being slathered in butter.
Making a loaf of solid banana bread is serious business. It needs to be moist and have the perfect amount of banana flavor. I have been recipe testing a lot of banana bread to come up with this perfect banana bread recipe.
Ingredients:
- Butter (softened)
- Oil (such as canola oil)
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Ripe Bananas
- Full-Fat Sour Cream
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Brown Sugar (to sprinkle on the top)
Banana Bread Tip:
The key to making the best banana bread is the combination of both butter and oil. The butter gives it the flavor while the oil gives it that extra moisture. It’s the best of both worlds! The addition of sour cream also creates a tender, creamy texture.
If you love to add chocolate to your banana bread, check out this recipe too:
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe (also includes a muffins variation)
Here is the recipe for the famous Flour Bakery Best Banana Bread.
How to make the BEST Banana Bread:
- Cream butter, oil, and sugar for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix for 1 minute longer. This is an important step as it is helping to create a creamy texture but also to add loft and air to the batter which will give the bread a nice rise.
- Add ripe, chopped bananas to the batter. Use bananas that are extra ripe and covered in brown spots. This makes the bread so much sweeter. If you use bright yellow bananas, the bread will not be as sweet or moist.
- Add full-fat sour cream. This is an important acidic element which creates a tender texture.
- Fold in dry ingredients. Don’t overmix as it creates too much gluten.
- Pour into an aluminum bread pan. I used an 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.75 inch loaf pan. This USA pan is my favorite loaf pan because it creates such perfectly baked bread.
- Cover the bread with aluminum foil after about 20 minutes of baking. I tent the foil so it doesn’t hinder the bread from rising.
- I love to sprinkle brown sugar all over the top of the bread during the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
Baking Banana Bread Tip:
Another tip for creating the perfect banana bread is to cover the bread with foil halfway through baking time. This allows the banana bread to fully cook in the center without getting it to brown on the outside.
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More Banana Recipes:
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Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons Butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup Oil (such as canola oil)
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 3 Ripe Bananas
- 1/4 cup Full-Fat Sour Cream
- 1 3/4 cups Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar (to sprinkle on the bread during the last 5-10 minutes of baking)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter, oil, and sugar. Cream for 3-4 minutes.
- Add eggs and vanilla and beat for 1 minute. Add bananas and sour cream. Stir well until combined.
- Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until combined. Pour into greased approximately 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.75 inch loaf pan.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cover with foil after about 20 minutes to prevent burning. Sprinkle bread with brown sugar about 5-10 minutes before the end of baking time.
- Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do we have to do sour cream or whatever? Does it affect the taste
Hi Cadence! The sour cream affects the taste and add a lot of moisture to the banana bread! If you were to omit I would recommend replacing it with full fat greek yogurt.
I can’t believe I finally found the perfect Banana Bread recipe. So many recipes I’ve tried over the years were dense and heavy. The flavor not quite right. I followed your recipe except I may have beat Steps 2 and 3 a little longer. It was a simple recipe that baked to perfection. I didn’t add the brown sugar on top, and the it was sweet enough without it. The bread was light, moist, and full of flavor. I can’t even count how many of your recipes our family have enjoyed. Thank you so much!!!
Wow Ellen, thank you so much for your nice comment. I am so glad you loved this recipe. Thank you for following along!
My favorite recipe!! So good
I am so glad you love this recipe, Blair!
This is the first recipe I’m trying from your website. Firstly, the crumb on this bread is perfect – yummy! Only critique from the recipe as written is to add a bit more info to the recipe itself, ex – banana – chopped or mashed and maybe note about greasing pan when preheating oven. I added chopped walnuts and next time I will add some cinnamon. I’m Giving this recipe a 5 because the texture and taste were top, the additions are just my preference.
Just tried this recipe…best banana bread ever!!! I have a new go-to banana bread recipe!!
Making this for the second time..its definitely a 5⭐ recipe . I’ve tried many ..this is my new fave 10/10❤
10/10 ❤