American Banana Bread

This is the banana bread recipe you’ve been searching for — perfectly moist, naturally sweet, and impossibly tender with those crispy, golden edges everyone fights over. Made with overripe bananas and simple pantry staples, it’s the kind of recipe you’ll bake again and again until you know it by heart.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The best way to use up overripe bananas sitting on your counter
• Incredibly moist and tender — stays fresh for days
• One bowl, no mixer needed, and almost impossible to mess up
• Fills your entire house with the most amazing warm, sweet aroma

Ingredients

• 3 large ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat and prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. Mash the bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth with a few small chunks remaining.
3. Mix wet ingredients: Stir in the melted butter, sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
4. Combine dry ingredients: Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and stir to combine.
5. Fold together: Add the flour and fold gently until just combined — do not overmix. Fold in walnuts if using.
6. Pour into pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
7. Bake: Bake for 55-60 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool and serve: Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pro Tips

• The riper the bananas, the better: Use bananas with lots of brown spots — or even fully black peels. They’re sweeter, more flavorful, and mash more easily.
• Don’t overmix: Stir the batter just until the dry ingredients are incorporated. Overmixing develops gluten and makes the bread tough instead of tender.
• Check early and tent with foil: If the top is browning too quickly, tent loosely with aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking.

You Might Also Love

• Smash Burgers — Crispy, juicy burgers — American comfort food at its best
• New York Cheesecake — Another beloved American baking classic
• Crème Brûlée — If you love baking, try this elegant French custard