Making banana bread is easy to do and it’s a perfect way to use up overripe bananas. Sour cream combined with mashed banana gives this bread even more moisture, making this a potluck favorite.
Why this recipe works
Our recipe is very easy to put together, making it ideal for beginner bakers. Next time you have bananas that are beginning to turn brown or have “freckles”, pull out this recipe and get baking.
ANOTHER RECIPE YOU MIGHT LIKE: Banana Cookies
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
OVERRIPE BANANAS – My recipe uses 6 overripe bananas for 2 loaves. Many recipes have 2 bananas per loaf but I have found that 3 is the perfect amount. When the banana’s peel has developed freckles, they are ready for making banana bread. The riper the banana, the stronger the banana flavor in your finished bread.
SOUR CREAM – Sour cream helps moisten your banana bread. If you prefer, you can substitute an equal amount of plain yogurt for the sour cream.
NUTS – If you prefer a banana nut bread, using walnuts or pecans is the most common choice. We include walnuts in this recipe, but if you prefer your bread without nuts, simply leave them out. There is no need to substitute anything.
Expert Tips for Awesome Banana Bread
Mashing bananas – You can simply mash your bananas with a fork. Continue mashing until the bananas can be stirred. I personally like a few banana chunks leftover, but that’s completely up to you. You can also use a hand mixer to mash your bananas!
Sugar dusting – You will notice in the steps below that we are dusting the pan with a cinnamon sugar mixture instead of flour. This adds a lovely caramelize cinnamon touch to the outside of your banana bread!
How to Make Banana Bread
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease two 9×5 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter and 3 cups sugar.
- Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon.
- Mix in salt, baking soda and flour.
- Use a wooden spoon to stir in nuts.
- Divide into prepared pans.
- Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe makes 2 loaves, but you can simply cut the ingredients in half and make one loaf instead.
You can store your banana bread, tightly wrapped or in a sealed container, at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for a week. Any longer than that, and I suggest freezing it.
You can freeze banana bread for up to 3 months. For the best results, cool the baked banana bread completely, then wrap each loaf in 2-3 layers of plastic wrap. Place the wrapped loaf into a plastic freezer bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, and seal the bag.
Another option is to freeze individual slices instead of the entire loaf. This is ideal for smaller families, couples, and empty nesters!
To thaw frozen banana bread, simply place in the refrigerator or thaw at room temperature.
A warm slice of fresh baked banana bread slathered with butter makes an amazing snack. The smell of banana bread baking in the oven is a comforting aroma everyone loves!
More Banana Recipes
- Easy Banana Cake
- Banana Pudding Poke Cake
- Homemade Banana Cream Pie
- Banana Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
- Homemade Banana Pudding
- Flourless Banana Pancakes
- Banana Nut Bread
- Banana Muffins
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Banana Bread
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 6 medium very ripe bananas mashed
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons baking soda
- 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chopped walnuts optional
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease two 9×5 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 cups sugar. Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon.
- Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in nuts. Divide into prepared pans.
- Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Nutrition
The Back Story
In December of 2016 I asked my Facebook followers for a banana bread recipe. I received many different suggestions but the one I ended up making was a sour cream banana bread.
Helen, the reader who originally gave it to me said “I have been baking and cooking for over 45 years and have made many good banana bread recipes. This one that I found this year is the best one ever. Raved by all the ladies who ate this at a coffee get together!”
Amanda Davis
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Kris says
The bread came out super tender, moist, slightly sweet, with a nice hint of cinnamon. I halved the recipe and only made one loaf, but now I wish I had enough bananas to have made two loaves. I also love the cinnamon sugar dusting on the pan idea, so good! Will definitely be making this again. Thank you!
Donna Valliere says
I made this but cut the recipe in half and left out the nuts. I also sprinkled the cinnamon sugar on the top like the first commenter did. Yum! Definitely keeping this recipe in my recipe box… LOVE!
Sheila Hutchinson says
The only thing I changed, well added is cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top before baking, so yummy
Lori says
This recipe looks amazing, I have a muffin recipe that has sour cream and that is awesome. I have to go buy some bananas to give this a try. Thanks I think I will LOVE this one.
Helen says
Very good banana bread and I’ve tried a lot of them. Must be the sour cream, that’s what made me try it. On my 3rd batch.
Jo says
Would like to try this but think 3 cups of sugar is way too much. Maybe will try using only 2 cups which seems more reasonable. Love banana bread but trying to cut down on sweet treats. Not easy!!
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Jo! Please note this makes TWO banana bread loaves :) Enjoy!
Tammy says
Looking forward to making this banana bread! How long do you cream the butter and sugar? Till light and fluffy (3-5 minutes) or until just incorporated (creamed together)?
Amanda Formaro says
Light and fluffy!