Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe

Tired of banana bread that's either dry or too dense? This recipe, adapted from Cook's Illustrated, delivers the ultimate moist and flavorful banana bread every time! We've perfected the technique to cook out excess moisture, resulting in a light and delicious loaf. Overripe bananas (heavily speckled with brown and black) are key—and you can even use frozen ones for convenience! This recipe ensures a perfectly textured, intensely flavorful banana bread that will become your new go-to.

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 99 mins

Calories 298.9 kcal

Protein 9g

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The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Ultimate Banana Bread

All Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Table Salt
Bananas
Butter
2 large eggs
Light Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Walnuts
¾ cup granulated sugar

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How to Make Ultimate Banana Bread

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, mash 5 very ripe bananas (about 3 cups mashed). If using frozen bananas, thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid in a strainer (peel before freezing to prevent discoloration).
In a separate bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until well combined.
Add the mashed bananas to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
Stir in the chopped walnuts (optional).
Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Top with slices of one fresh, ripe banana.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, tent it loosely with foil.
Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

11 g

Sugar

85g

Fat

27g

Carbs

15g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Breakfast & Brunch Sweets & Sides Desserts The Americas American Southern Vegetarian Baking

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation Breads Fruit Quick Breads Tropical Fruit Bananas 4 Hours Or Less From Scratch

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Ultimate Banana Bread?

Ultimate Banana Bread takes about 119 minutes from start to finish — roughly 20 minutes to prepare and 99 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in Ultimate Banana Bread?

Ultimate Banana Bread has approximately 298.9 calories per serving, with about 9 g protein, 15 g carbohydrates and 18 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for Ultimate Banana Bread?

The key ingredients for Ultimate Banana Bread are All Purpose Flour, Baking Soda, Table Salt, Bananas, Butter, Eggs. See the full list with measurements above.