One Bowl Banana Bread (2024)

This moist and tender One Bowl Banana Bread is the banana bread recipe you’ll turn to time and time again! It’s one of those classic recipes that earns an immediate spot in the keeper files. This easy recipe yields a tender loaf that’s packed full of banana flavor and is melt-in-your-mouth good.

With a simple list of ingredients, the banana really shines through in this banana bread recipe! The texture is out of this world, too. The loaf stays moist for days, yielding bendable, tender slices that are incredible by themselves but even better with a smear of butter.

You’ll love how simple and easy this banana bread recipe is! It uses a single mixing bowl plus a couple of utensils and measuring cups. The batter mixes together in minutes, and your banana bread is baking before you notice. Bonus: It makes the house smell amazing!

The next time you have a bunch of overripe bananas lounging on your kitchen counter, make this one bowl banana bread recipe. You’ll be glad you did!

Why I LOVE this recipe!

• Simple recipe for perfect classic banana bread – A simple list of ingredients gives you one perfect loaf that’s full of banana flavor.
• Good for a wide variety of occasions – Banana bread is so great to have in the kitchen for quick breakfasts and everyday snacks. But it’s also perfect for occasions like game days, holidays, or a welcome-to-the-neighborhood gift.
• Uses just one bowl for minimal dishes. No sink full of dishes or kitchen messes after making this banana bread! It all comes together in a single bowl for fast and easy clean-up.
• Perfect make-ahead recipe – Banana bread freezes so well! It’s so nice to have a loaf of this one-bowl banana bread hanging out in the freezer to pull out for entertaining, easy snacks for busy weeks, or to give to someone who could use a little pick-me-up.

Ingredients + Substitutions

• Butter – Melted butter makes a moist banana bread with rich flavor.You can substitute margarine if you prefer.
  
• Bananas – They should be very ripe, with peels that are dotted with black spots.
  
• Sugar – Granulated or cane sugar are great in this recipe, but you can swap the white sugar for brown sugar. Light or dark brown sugar are both great in banana bread, adding a caramel note and a little more moisture.
  
• Egg – Binds the ingredients together.
  
• Vanilla extract – Adds a sweet note that enhances the banana flavor.
  
• Flour – All-purpose flour is what I suggest for this banana bread recipe, but if you want a heartier loaf, you can swap half of the flour for whole wheat flour. For a lighter texture, cake flour can be subbed in as well.
  
• Baking soda – This leavener helps the banana bread rise.
  
• Salt – Helps enhance the flavors and offset some of the sweetness.

Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.

Recipe Variations

If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!

• Make one-bowl chocolate chip banana bread – Fold 1/2 cup of chocolate chips into the batter before baking for chocolate-banana bliss!
  
• Go nuts – Add walnuts or pecans to the batter for a banana-nut variation.
  
• Spice it up – Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and/or a pinch of nutmeg for a warm, cozy spin.

Recipe Step by Step

I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make one bowl banana bread.

Place the peeled bananas in a bowl and mash them with a fork.

Add the butter and sugar and mix until incorporated.

Mix in the egg and vanilla until well-combined.

Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix just until combined. A few lumps are okay!

Recipe Tips

1. Make sure your bananas are very ripe – For the best banana bread, your bananas should be deep yellow with black spots all over, with a distinct banana smell.
   
2. Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until incorporated – Don’t overmix the batter once the wet and dry are together. If you continue stirring, you risk developing the gluten in the flour which can give you dry, tough banana bread.
   
3. How long to bake banana bread– I suggest 45-55 minutes baking time at around sea level, but if you live at a higher altitude, you may need to make adjustments. To check banana bread for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, your banana bread is done! Be careful not to cook it for too long which can result in a dry loaf.

Freezer Meal Instructions

Making this one bowl banana bread recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to a month.

To freeze banana bread

1. Allow to cool completely.
2. Tightly wrap the loaf in plastic wrap or foil, add a label with the name and date, and transfer to freezer.
3. Thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours or overnight.

Leave a Reply

1. Candice Parker

   February 20, 2024

   
   My three year old son and I loved using this recipe. It was super easy to follow and so delicious. The bread was very tasty and moist. I made sure to bake it for the entire allotted time (55 minutes) and it came out great.

   Reply