Appreciate your insight! I did however add extra sour cream for extra moistness. I’ve made and shared with a few people. We added mini chocolate chips which took it over the top! Best banana bread I have had went over well with family. Tx. We absolutely love it and seriously use it daily. Thank you, Mel! But I happen to live with and love my dark, flecked banana bread preferring husband. I love using this recipe. Used Applesauce with the oil and Walnuts!Baked in 9 by 13 inch pan 35 minutes.. Reviewed by millions of home cooks. Turned out great. After reading notes I did make a few substitutions. Wowser!
Please keep them coming! Putting foil over the top of the loaf toward the end of cooking time might keep it from getting too dark while the middle cooks. I’ll try the buttermilk version sometime too.
Wow!
I doubled this and made three pans of mini muffins and one loaf. This has been my go-to banana bread recipe. Amazing! Not trying to over ride! The buttermilk banana bread I’ve referenced several times already with the light-colored crumb only has 1/8 teaspoon baking soda. Moist, tasty, and easy to make. This is the best banana bread I’ve ever made – and I’ve made a lot. I’ve finally found banana bread I can make that he LOVES!
Hope that helped? Nice and speckly – just like I like it! No one can ever tell it's been "lightened up." I’m also allergic to eggs, however in some cases I can manage, AND THIS IS ONE! It’s so easy (one bowl, no mixer). If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption. Thanks! This banana bread was so good! Also, is oil or butter the “healthier” option? This isn’t a forgotten recipe for me! As my bananas were very ripe I only used 3/4 cups of sugar. Looks delicious have not cut it yet to try it out. I just made this! I don’t make it often but could never find a good enough recipe…until NOW! This came out perfect! I am just wondering if anyone has any tips as to why whenever I make ANY banana bread recipe…I always need to cook longer than the time says, and even still, sometimes the top middle never cooks. I’m in the “no nuts” camp. Would that be 1 Stick of butter (soft)? I used 2 eggs and light sour cream.
I like to use banana bread muffins or zucchini bread muffins in my kids lunches for school! No applesauce? Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. I’ve used coconut oil and vegetable oil. I don’t foresee ever making banana nut bread using any other recipe. I like to get creative and to substitutions. I now set the temp about ten degrees higher than the recipes call for and it seems to help. Check at 30 minutes and cover with a thin layer of foil if top is browning too quickly. Thank you!!! Morbid thought…but reading the rave reviews made me realize that if anything happened to me, my family would miss me AND my banana bread.
I don’t like to mix that much sugar with oil. Was looking for recipe using sour cream in banana bread when you post was you were moving to Wi. Perfect! Came out as it looked in the pictures! I’ll definitely have to try again! I was wondering if that extra step really makes a difference, but I’ve found it helps me mix things more consistently and gives certain recipes a more airy texture. The banana bread is very good ! I also used Splenda reducing to 3/4 cup. The recipe was quick and easy to make.
This banana bread recipe is no exception. each) and make a bunch to deliver to friends. Truly disappointing. We loved it. Thank you!
Yes, it does. Found it on yummly as I didn’t have any butter and had an overabundance of ripe bananas, so I needed one calling for oil…added half a cup of chocolate chips and wow! thanks again, i love it! My kids and husband loved them so much that there was pretty much nothing left in about an hour (I may or may not have had about 3-4 minis myself:)). Hey, that’s great timing, Sheila!
I follow the recipe exactly, except I add chopped walnuts at the end. Thank you Melanie!
Thanks for sharing!
I’m already dreading the moving/packing process and I don’t have a house and would be staying in the same city. thanks, Amanda! Have made this a number of times over the past couple of years. Hi Mel, thank you for this recipe. Thank you for the great recipe. I cannot seem to get my banana breads to be as dense as the stuff I buy at store bakeries. , Love this bread! Information is not currently available for this nutrient. Boy! I can’t wait to make a double batch of this banana bread tomorrow!!
I made 1 dz plain (without adding anything, as in your original recipe) and t o the rest of the batter I put 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips. Mel, I made the banana bread with gluten-free flour last night but was only able to taste the batter. I’m not really sure, Becky…I kind of like banana bread light and fluffy myself. Worked fine! chips. This cake goes well with a cup of hot cocoa! Best banana bread recipe ever! It’s surprisingly moist, packed with banana … I weighed the flour (but now I wish I had weighed the bananas – I might have used a smidgen too much). This post may contain affiliate links. I think I may have mashed the bananas too much though – I put them in a blender till they were practically banana juice and the resulting bread was pretty thick. so based on what you share about the amount of baking soda determining the color of banana bread, what would happen if I did half teaspoon to this recipe?? Made the quinoa in the instant pot, great idea! Amazing recipe base…..thank u so much for sharing.
Thank you! The first time in one loaf and the second time in mini loaf pans. I love the body the oatmeal adds to the bread. I will give it another try another time. Thank you!!! It was delicious!
I was intrigued by your note about using butter and applesauce. Delicious! Extremely moist, yet a slight crispy edge. Very Moist and visually appealing. Thank you!!!!!!! It made me pause, though. I highly recommend it! The second big issue (and a conundrum to some) is whether you prefer your banana bread dark and speckly or if you are a fan of golden, light-colored banana bread?
In large bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream, vanilla extract, and bananas until smooth. Even when I thought I messed up on the ingredients (using slightly water plain yogurt because I had no sour cream), I was very pleased. I guess it was the over mixing. I accidentally added way too much sour cream (my kids were helping me…I was a little distracted), so it turned out extra super moist. I’ll be making this again soon. lol And next to that would be crushed pecans or walnuts as I love nuts too………. Hi Cindy – sorry for the confusion. My changes for half the recipe: 2 TBS butter & 1/4 cup of applesauce instead of all butter. great bread, by the way–it looks super moist, which is the most important quality of banana bread to me. Depending on who I’m making the loaf for, I’ll add a cup of toasted walnuts. Wow… I’ve been in a relationship with my boyfriend for over 6 years and oftentimes he has me make banana bread because it’s his number one faaaavorite (thanks to the local coffee shop). No one would guess they are lower fat and calorie. I live in Mesa, AZ so no high altitude. It makes a BIG loaf in the 9×5 pan.
But walnuts are a must for me.
Gotta love a Midwestern summer (that was loaded with sarcasm! Hi Mel, I’m just learning baking and I know how precise it should be, I would just like to ask regarding this instruction: “Add flour, baking soda and salt; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened”.. My buttermilk was spoiled, so I decided I’d try this one. As a volunteer field editor with Taste of Home magazine I love recipes that guarantee great flavors! Hi I am KT and I am an addict of Mels recipes……okay now that is over……I have tried for MULTIPLE years to bake a great banana bread. Glad you liked this. I added just a dash of nutmeg and ground cloves. I don’t mix after adding the to the oil and sugar…only stir. Amazing Mel, so happy I found you!!! debbie – I’ve never tried it that way but I know that plain yogurt is interchangeable for sour cream in many recipes, so there is a good chance it should work out just fine.
I know sometimes recipes offer this alternative and am wondering if it might work here?
How do you recommend baking them? Next time, I think I will add some chocolate chips (and maybe some nuts:-) ). Bicarbonate of soda or ‘baking soda’ is also a base which forms carbon dioxide when mixed with an acid (in the form of bananas / sour cream, etc.) Good luck with the move, we’ll miss you while you’re busy! But Wisconsin is in for a treat! You have never let me down, and even my husband is on a first name basis with you You really are the best! There’s room in this world for nut lovers and non-nut lovers alike! Have a wonderful weekend . Making a crumbly topping is a MUST. Sometimes, things that seem too good to be true, turn out to be very true indeed.Applesauce Banana Bread made without the use of butter or oil happens to be one of them. Preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃). I tried this for the first time about 2 years ago and have been making it ever since. Usually I have to add 10-20 min. I’m a decent baker/cook and make bread frequently, I’m not sure what went wrong. No matter what his preference is, I loved the rich banana taste and the lightness of the bread.
I know the altitude affects the leavening – so the baking soda reason makes sense to me. Easy! Bake it one day, then serve.
I’ll have to try that for sure! I baked for 30-ish minutes. When I got out, everyone was standing around the cooling rack waiting for me to say that it was okay to cut the loaf. Nuts are a huge no, unless they’re ground to dust. Could you sub pumpkin for the banana & add some spice? Used 1/2 applesauce and 1/2 oil and 3/4 cup sugar. One more addition was 1/2 cup of Lily’s dark chocolate chips. This is literally a milestone in our relationship!