I Tested 3 Popular Banana Bread Recipes—One Was a Clear Winner

Recipe 1: Banana Bread With Brown Sugar

- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter (4oz or 115 g) *
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 ⅓ cups mashed bananas

* Cream the butter with the sugar at room temperature for a lighter, airier batter.

Recipe 2: Quick and Easy Banana Bread

- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt (it turns out very salty, I strongly suggest reducing the salt to 1/4 teaspoon)

Recipe 3: Banana Bread with Sour Cream

- 1 cup white sugar
- ½ cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt (that's a bit too much; I recommend using 1/4 teaspoon)
- ½ cup sour cream (or yogurt)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 2 medium bananas

Helpful Tips:

- Use very ripe bananas for maximum flavor and sweetness.
- Try not to overmix the batter to prevent the bread from becoming flat and dense.
- Baking time may vary depending on the type of pan and oven used; some users suggested covering the bread with foil to prevent burning.
- Make sure the bananas are well mashed to avoid large chunks in the final bread.
- Bake at 325°F (165°C) for about 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- You can freeze overripe bananas and use them later. Just thaw them before adding to the batter.
- If you want a deeper flavor, try replacing some of the white sugar with brown sugar.
- It's preferable for the eggs to be at room temperature.
- I use a 9x5-inch (approximately 23x13 cm) loaf pan.

Sources:

[valerieneal]

I allow my bananas to ripen until the skin is almost black. I was taught by one of my elders that when you allow your babanas to ripen on your counter like that, the more sugars develop in the fruit. Works every time.

[ashleyh]

Just did #1 with melted butter with 1 tsp vanilla and a dash of cinnamon powder at 325 F /45’ ( I used toaster oven) came out delicious ! Thank you !

[Lotuspriestess]

I always beat the eggs with the sugar at any recipe. It helps to dissolve the sugar. Undisolved sugar flatten the bread/ cake.

[SamVioletEverGreen]

I'm watching from Jamaica and we usually mix the butter and sugar with mixer till it's fluffy. My way is similar to No. 1 banana bread but I add nuts to mine. Best recipe 👌

[duckpond]

#1 sounds the best to me. I would add 1/2 cup of toasted pecans or walnuts plus a little cinnamon which are part of my favorite recipe from an old Readers' Digest cookbook.

[fayeg]

I tried the 3rd receipe it came out very nice! Thanks. I reduced sugar to 3/4 cups. Yr description says 1 1/2 cups flour but yr demonstration was 2 cups so i used 2 cups. I liked it cause no gadgets to use! Just simple and straight forward!

[patparada]

No, the sugar and soften butter need to be creamed with the electric beater, it does make a difference.

[Hollandsemum]

Actually, I always cream the butter and then add the sugar. The butter should be room temperature to begin with (that's why it splattered & didn't work - hard butter is for pastry dough and is cut in not mixed). Start beating the soft butter until it lightens in color then gradually beat in the sugar - until fluffy. The texture will be mixed but look a little like clouds stacked on each other. Then the eggs are beaten in one at a time. The reason for that is so that each is fully incorporated with the butterfat. Every one or two eggs, scrape the bowl, again to ensutre proper incorporation with the butter.
The above steps mean it will be a fully mixed batter with a light texture before adding leavening.
In the US, medium bananas are not generally available. So 5 Us bananas makes 2 loaves of banana bread.

[theknightofie]

#1 seems the best. Many bananas and brown sugar just makes more sense, adding vanilla to it and brushing some butter on it as soon as it gets out of the over to give it a shiny wet look

[warmwoolsoxgood]

To swiftly bring chilled eggs to room temperature just add it/them to warm tap water letting them sit for 2-3 minutes. It’s a quick fix that makes the difference. 😊

[ahmadghanem]

Baked #3, added peanut butter, cinnamon to the recipe. Came out fabulous. Thanks .

[NorahAttas]

Hello, from Saudi Arabia🇸🇦.
It's amazing how you make things so simple, Thank you and Keep going👍🏻

[margaretemmerson]

Hello. Margaret here from South Africa. Cannot wait to try N0 3 recipe. Thanks.

[nazaninalimadad]

Hi, I am from Toronto Canada 🇨🇦
I baked the first recipe and turned very good.

[RRoseBlush]

I live in Canada : love to see how you make breads, banjana bread is great thank you,

[joyscranfield]

My banana bread recipe calls for mixtute of all purpose flour & whole wheat flour, a natural nutty taste without nuts! Very good & moist!

[sandybyrd]

I have made so many banana breads with toasted pecans and without, always with sour cream it is the best, I'm reside in Phila Pa, thanks for review.

[salwapeart]

I always use the 3rd recipe and I use yoghurt inside of sour cream. Thanks for sharing. Greetings for beautiful Jamaica.

[ashmeedmohammed]

Yes I enjoy looking at your video and I definitely tried it and I agree with you the third recipe came out the best I am from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean

[celestemichon]

I believe number one with the walnuts would be the best in my personal opinion you can’t call a banana bread unless you have a few bananas in there like five❤