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Best Banana Bread Recipe

This Best Banana Bread Recipe is rich, tender, and perfectly moist thanks to the magic of sour cream and brown sugar. Whether you’re making a super moist banana bread with sour cream or experimenting with banana bread with oil, this easy recipe guarantees bakery-level results every time. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large ripe bananas mashed
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter or ½ cup vegetable oil for a lighter version
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven:
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
  3. Mix dry ingredients:
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Cream butter and sugar:
  6. In a large bowl, beat butter (or oil) and brown sugar until smooth and creamy.
  7. Add wet ingredients:
  8. Mix in eggs one at a time, then add mashed bananas, vanilla extract, and sour cream. Stir until fully combined.
  9. Combine wet and dry:
  10. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined — avoid overmixing.
  11. Add mix-ins (optional):
  12. Fold in walnuts, chocolate chips, or cinnamon if desired.
  13. Bake:
  14. Pour batter into the loaf pan and bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  15. Cool and serve:
  16. Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • Use very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots for natural sweetness.
  • Don’t overmix your batter — this keeps the loaf soft and moist.
  • Replace ¼ cup of brown sugar with white sugar for a lighter sweetness.
  • For an extra flavor boost, add ½ teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg.