Description
This easy homemade banana bread is moist, flavorful, and packed with the perfect balance of sweetness and warmth. With simple ingredients and a foolproof method, this recipe is perfect for beginner bakers looking for a comforting treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1⅛ cup sugar
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk or milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 bananas, mashed (very ripe)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set the oven to 325°F (165°C) and grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg, sugar, and oil until smooth and well combined.
- Incorporate dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, stirring gently. The batter will be thick at this stage.
- Add moisture and flavor: Stir in the buttermilk, vanilla extract, and mashed bananas, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread light and fluffy.
- Fold in walnuts (optional): Gently stir in the chopped walnuts, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Transfer to pan and bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-75 minutes, checking for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center—if it comes out clean, the bread is ready.
- Cool before slicing: Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- If your bananas aren’t ripe enough, speed up the ripening process by placing them in a brown paper bag overnight or baking them in a 300°F oven for 30 minutes.
- To make this a chocolate banana bread, substitute walnuts with chocolate chips.
- For a bakery-style presentation, sprinkle extra walnuts on top before baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-75 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/10 of loaf)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg