Easy Banana Bread Recipe - Spend With Pennies

This easy banana bread recipe uses simple pantry ingredients, takes less than 10 minutes of prep time, and comes out perfectly sweet and moist every time.

stacked slices of banana bread with cubes of butter

Flavor: Soft, tender, and naturally sweet from ripe bananas with a little extra richness from a secret ingredient.
Skill Level: Beginner-friendly; no mixer needed.
Prep Note: Peel and freeze bananas in Ziploc bags when they’re ripe for baking. Drain off any liquid before using.
Recommended Tools: This easy banana bread is baked in an 8×4-inch loaf pan.
Serving Suggestion: Slice it warm and serve it with butter, or toast it for breakfast. Slices freeze beautifully for grab-and-go treats that kids will love.

Bananas, baking soda, mayonnaise, sugar, flour, egg, salt, and pecans with labels to make Easy Banana Bread

Easy Banana Bread Ingredients

This easy to make banana loaf uses just 7 simple pantry ingredients.

Bananas: For the sweetest loaf, use very ripe bananas. You’ll need about 1 cup of mashed bananas.
Mayonnaise: Mayo is made of eggs and oil, making it an easy swap in baked goods, and you can’t taste the mayo, I promise! You can use any variety of mayonnaise (I use Hellmann’s).
Add-Ins: You can replace the pecans with walnuts or chocolate chips. Add cinnamon or nutmeg for a warming twist.

How To Ripen Bananas Quickly

Uh oh! You have beautiful yellow bananas, perfect for a smoothie or banana pudding, but not so perfect for baking…

To ripen in 1-2 days: place them in a brown paper bag (with other ripe fruit if you have any) and seal.
To ripen immediately: Place directly on the rack in the oven at 300°F for 15-20 minutes. Cool before using.

wet ingredients in a bowl for an easy banana bread recipe

How to Make Easy Banana Bread

Mash the bananas and mix them with the egg and mayonnaise.
Combine dry ingredients in a second mixing bowl.
Mix the two just until moist, then pour into a greased pan and bake (full recipe below).

The batter should be thick and a bit lumpy; do not add extra liquid or extra bananas, it will make the bread too dense.
As with all quick breads, do not overmix. Use a spoon, not a mixer.
Do not overbake. Ovens can vary; check your bread at least 10 minutes before the cooking time is up.
For muffins, grease muffin tins or use silicone liners, and reduce the bake time to about 14 to 18 minutes.
For easy removal, line the loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving about 3 inches of paper folded over the top of the pan.

A sliced loaf of banana bread made from an easy banana bread recipe

Storing, Freezing, and Leftovers

Let the loaf cool all the way before storing it in an airtight container. It can stay on the counter for about 4 days, or you can refrigerate it to help it last longer.
Freeze whole or in slices for up to 3 months; wrap tightly to prevent freezer burn.
Warm a slice in the toaster or microwave until it is slightly heated for a warm, fresh-baked treat!

Cozy Banana Favorites

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan and set aside.
Mash the bananas with a fork. In a medium bowl, combine mashed bananas, mayonnaise, and egg. In a separate large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and pecans if using.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Note: The mixture will be very thick, but do not overmix.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from the pan, and place on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

To Ripen Bananas Quickly, warm them at 300°F for 15-20 minutes. Cool before using.
Avoid adding extra bananas; this can make the bread too dense. You should have about 1 cup of mashed bananas; if it’s a little bit over or under, it’s okay in this recipe.
As with all quick breads, do not overmix. Stir just until incorporated. Batter should be lumpy.
Check your bread at least 10 minutes before the baking time is up.
Line the loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving about 3 inches of paper folded over the top of the pan for easy removal.
To Make Muffins, divide the batter evenly among 12 muffin wells and bake for 14-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Do not overbake.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Bread, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

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