Recipes

How to Make Banana Bread

Name: How to Make Banana Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 19 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 3 very ripe bananas, mashed; 200 g plain flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 0.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda; 0.25 tsp fine salt; 100 g unsalted butter, melted; 150 g light brown sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 60 ml whole milk

⏱ 19 min 📄 Article Easy 👁 7 views

How to cook it

About this dish

When it comes to make banana bread, banana bread is the bake that turns a kitchen mistake into a triumph — those black-spotted bananas languishing in the fruit bowl become the star ingredient in a moist, fragrant loaf that fills the house with warmth. It is technically a quick bread, leavened with baking powder rather than yeast, which means no proving and minimal fuss.

The riper the bananas, the better the result. Wait until the skins are heavily speckled or almost entirely black for maximum sweetness and banana flavour. A handful of walnuts or chocolate chips stirred through the batter is always welcome but never essential.

Recipe

🍽 Serves 10 ⏱ Prep 15 min 🔥 Cook 55 min

Ingredients

3 very ripe bananas, mashed
200 g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda
0.25 tsp fine salt
100 g unsalted butter, melted
150 g light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
60 ml whole milk

Step-by-step

💡 Mash bananas with a fork until smooth with only small lumps — this gives the best texture.

Prepare the tin

Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease and line a 900 g loaf tin with baking paper. Mash the bananas in a large bowl until mostly smooth. Lay out everything you need within arm's reach and read the full sequence once before starting make banana bread — missing a single tool mid-task is the main reason simple jobs overrun their time estimate. Note what worked in a phone memo so you can repeat the process faster next time.

Combine wet ingredients

Stir the melted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and milk into the mashed bananas until well combined. Lay out everything you need within arm's reach and read the full sequence once before starting make banana bread — missing a single tool mid-task is the main reason simple jobs overrun their time estimate. Note what worked in a phone memo so you can repeat the process faster next time.

Add dry ingredients

Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and salt into the wet mixture. Fold gently until just combined and no flour streaks remain. Lay out everything you need within arm's reach and read the full sequence once before starting make banana bread — missing a single tool mid-task is the main reason simple jobs overrun their time estimate. Note what worked in a phone memo so you can repeat the process faster next time.

Bake the loaf

Pour the batter into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Bake for 50–55 minutes until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Preheat equipment fully and use a food thermometer for meat and reheated dishes — visual cues alone are unreliable, and the FSA recommends core temperatures above 70 °C for two minutes when reheating. Note what worked in a phone memo so you can repeat the process faster next time.

Cool and serve

Leave in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve plain or lightly buttered. Work steadily through this part of make banana bread, pausing to double-check your work against the goal before moving on — most mistakes are caught when you slow down at transitions between stages. Note what worked in a phone memo so you can repeat the process faster next time.

Sources and further reading

Facts, limits, and safety notes in this guide are cross-checked against the references below. Laws, fees, and product guidance change — always confirm details for your region before acting.

Background concepts and terminology

Wikipedia — Make banana bread

❓ FAQs

Can I freeze banana bread?

Yes — wrap slices or the whole loaf tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or toast slices from frozen.

My banana bread is dry — what went wrong?

Overbaking is the usual culprit. Check 5 minutes before the suggested time. Using bananas that are not ripe enough also reduces moisture.

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Guide by Elena Rossi

Chef and recipe developer. Trained in Rome and London kitchens — now focuses on teaching home cooks measurement, prep systems, and weeknight meal planning.

How to Make Banana Bread

How to cook it

About this dish