Makes: 2 large loaves or 6–8 mini aluminum loaves (like in your image)
Time: 1 hour baking + 15 min prep
Difficulty: Easy
🍌 Introduction
Banana bread is one of the most loved home-baked treats worldwide, and for good reason. It’s simple to prepare, uses basic pantry ingredients, and fills the home with the most comforting aroma—warm spices, sweet bananas, and buttery richness. The loaves in your picture are golden brown with slightly cracked tops, a perfect sign of a moist interior and well-risen crumb. Achieving this bakery-style texture requires the right ratio of wet to dry ingredients, proper mixing, and careful baking.
This recipe walks you through everything you need, from choosing the best bananas to making the batter extra fluffy and flavorful. I’ll also include professional bakery tips so your loaves look just like the ones in the photo—beautifully domed, glossy, and golden.
🍽 Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
2 ½ cups (310 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon (optional but recommended)
½ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Wet Ingredients
1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
1 cup (220 g) brown sugar
¾ cup (170 g) melted butter OR neutral oil
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup (240 ml) plain yogurt or buttermilk
4–5 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 2 cups)
Optional Add-ins
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup chocolate chips
A swirl of caramel
Cinnamon sugar sprinkle on top
🧑🍳 Instructions
- Prepare the bananas
You need very ripe bananas, ideally with lots of brown spots. The riper the banana, the sweeter and softer it becomes, which makes the bread moist and flavorful. Mash them well with a fork until mostly smooth, leaving a few small lumps for texture.
Baker’s tip:
If your bananas are not ripe, place them in the oven at 150°C (300°F) for 10–15 minutes until the skins turn black. This softens and sweetens them quickly.
- Mix dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
Flour
Baking powder
Baking soda
Salt
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Whisking evenly distributes the leavening agents, preventing dense patches in the bread.
- Combine wet ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk:
Melted butter or oil
Brown sugar
White sugar
Whisk until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Then mix in:
Mashed bananas
Vanilla extract
Yogurt or buttermilk
The yogurt/buttermilk is key—it adds moisture and helps create the beautiful golden crust like in your photo.
- Combine wet and dry
Slowly add the dry mixture into the wet mixture. Stir gently using a spatula or wooden spoon. Do not overmix—your batter should be thick and slightly lumpy.
Important: Overmixing develops gluten and creates dense, tough bread.
- Add extras
Fold in nuts, chocolate chips, or any mix-ins—optional but delicious.
- Fill baking pans
Grease your pans (or use disposable aluminum pans like the ones in your picture). Fill each pan ¾ full to allow room for rising.
To get a shiny crust like your photo:
Brush the top lightly with melted butter OR
Sprinkle with a little brown sugar before baking
This creates the caramelized look.
- Bake
Bake at:
160–170°C (325–350°F)
for:
Large loaves: 55–65 minutes
Mini loaves: 25–35 minutes
Bread is done when:
A toothpick comes out clean
The top is cracked and golden
The center springs back slightly when pressed
- Cool properly
Place the loaves on a cooling rack. Let them cool at least 20 minutes before removing from the pan. The cooling process helps set the texture so the bread stays moist.
🍯 Tips for Bakery-Style Results
- Use more brown sugar than white sugar
Brown sugar helps with moisture retention and gives a rich caramel flavor and darker crust.
- Don’t skip yogurt or buttermilk
It activates the leavening and prevents dryness.
- Don’t cut back on bananas
Two cups of mashed bananas is ideal for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Bake at a slightly lower temperature
This prevents the bread from burning on the outside while staying raw inside.
- Rest the batter for 10 minutes
This hydrates the flour and improves the dome on top.
🍌 Variations
Banana Nut Bread
Add 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Add 1 cup chocolate chips + 2 tbsp cocoa powder for chocolate lovers.
Caramel Swirl Banana Bread
Add 3 tbsp thick caramel sauce into the batter and swirl with a knife before baking.
Banana Cinnamon Loaf
Sprinkle a mix of cinnamon + sugar + brown sugar on top.
🌟 Storage Tips
Room temperature: up to 4 days
Refrigerator: up to 1 week
Freezer: up to 3 months (wrap tightly)
Toast slices and spread with butter, honey, or Nutella—amazing!