My Favorite Banana Bread Recipe
This is my favorite banana bread recipe, featuring ripe bananas, Greek yogurt, and optional nuts or chocolate chips.
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Cooling Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 slices
Calories 180 kcal
Oven
9×5-inch loaf pan
mixing bowls
Mixer
Whisk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
- ¾ cup brown sugar (packed light or dark)
- 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt (or full-fat sour cream, at room temperature)
- 1 and ½ cups mashed bananas (about 3–4 ripe bananas)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar together on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. With the mixer running on medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the yogurt, vanilla, and mashed bananas until combined.
Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and beat on low speed just until combined. Do not over-mix. Fold in the nuts/chocolate chips, if using. The batter should be thick.
Pour and spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 60–65 minutes, making sure to loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil halfway through, to prevent the top from getting too brown. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with only a few small moist crumbs.
Cool the bread in the pan set on a cooling rack for 1 hour. Remove the bread from the pan and cool it directly on the rack until ready to slice and serve.
Store wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 180mgPotassium: 200mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.5mg
Keyword baking, banana bread, bread, Dessert, easy banana bread, sweet bread