This homemade banana bread truly is the best banana nut bread recipe out there. It uses melted butter to make it truly unique (and moist!)
THE BEST HOMEMADE BANANA BREAD RECIPE
This really is the best banana nut bread recipe I have ever made. And I usually make it when I have some over-ripe bananas that are just begging to be used. If I catch them before they become too ripe then I will usually make SOUTHERN BANANA PUDDING. Those overripe bananas help make this bread so moist!
WHAT COLOR SHOULD THE BANANAS BE?
They should have black spots or streaks on the peel. The more dark spots on the banana, the more ripe (and therefore, sweeter) the banana. You don't want green or all yellow bananas.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS SWEET BREAD
This really is a fairly simple bread to throw together. You can make it with or without the streusel topping. I do like to add some banana extract to the batter because I like a really strong banana flavor but if you don't have it on hand, just substitute with vanilla extract. 
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
For the bread:
very ripe bananas
large egg
unsalted butter
sugar
vanilla extract
all-purpose flour
baking powder
salt
cinnamon
walnuts
flour
softened butter
sugar
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BANANA BREAD:
Enjoy!
Originally published: January 2011
Updated and republished: April 2019
THE BEST BANANA BREAD
Ingredients
For the bread:
- 3 very ripe bananas mashed
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup melted unsalted butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon banana extract optional
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 ¾ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
For the (optional) Streusel Topping:
- ¼ cup flour
- 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F degrees.
- Spray loaf baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, butter and sugar and extract.
- Mix thoroughly, then add dry ingredients; flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
- Mix until combined then stir in chopped walnuts.
- Pour batter into baking dish.
- Make streusel topping.
- Combine flour, butter and sugar until crumbly.
- Sprinkle on top of batter.
- Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Allow to cool before slicing.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
CRAVING MORE BANANA RECIPES? YOU GOTTA TRY THESE!
BANANA BREAD CRUMB CAKE
BANANA BREAD COBBLER
CHEESECAKE STUFFED BANANA BREAD
BANANA PUDDING POKE CAKE
Sarah
Very very good but not quite sweet enough! That said, i did not use banana or vanilla extract. I will be trying this again bc I love the idea of a streusel topping on banana bread. Wonderful idea!!
jerry Papariello
Best I ever had I make it into muffins with chocolate chips my grandkids love them
Amy
Thank you
Veronica
I’m very leery of trying recipes on Pinterest. You never know for sure if their really good, but this is truly the BEST banana bread recipe I’ve ever eaten!!! I use 1/2 cup of yogurt instead of eggs(just didn’t have any) & it was still delicious!!! I also didn’t have baking powder so I used 1 & 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda instead. Thank u for a great recipe!!!
Liz
This is my new favorite banana bread recipe. I used vanilla extract, because I don't have banana extract. It was delicious. Thanks!
Michele
This is my sweetheart’s favorite! Very easy! I usually add an extra banana.
Jennifer Mata
Everyone loves when I make this recipe! I add vanilla instead of banana extract though. It's honestly so moist and delish! Great recipe! I'll have to try doing them with chocolate chips one of these days!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Wow - thank you so much Jennifer! I really appreciate you taking the time to come back and review!!
Cathy
I made this a couple of months ago and my 34 year old nephew said it was the best he ever tasted. I did not add the banana extract but am just now getting around to baking a 2nd loaf with the added extract. It is really the best banana bread I have ever had and that's saying a lot since I am 61 years young. Thanks for the great recipe !
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you so very much Cathy! I really appreciate you coming back and taking the time to review!
Savannah
This is my favorite banana bread recipe. I switch the walnuts out with dark chocolate chips and it’s flipping delicious!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you so very much Savannah! Love hearing that! Thank you for taking the time to come back and comment!
Linda Gimnich
The fastest way to ripen bananas or avocados etc. is to put them is a closed up brown paper bag. Someone told me that years ago and it works.....takes only a couple of days depending how much you need to ripen them.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Wonderful and super helpful tip Linda - thanks so much!
Jennelle Alt
So good and moist!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you so very much Jennelle!
Desiree Johnson
Made recipe into mini cupcakes had a big bag of cranberries and walnuts from Costco gone in two days went to get more bananas and my grocery store just got a fresh shipment in which meant no ripe bananas not a one! So I’m just waiting for them to ripen ????so I can make my next batch
Brandie @ The Country Cook
That's the hardest part - waiting on bananas to ripen. Ha! So happy you love this recipe! Yay!! I also really love the addition of cranberries - great idea!!
Sharon Baker
I just made this a couple days ago but made muffins instead. So good, so moist. Only about 20 min. in the oven.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
YUM!! Great idea! Thanks so much for coming back to comment! It will certainly help others who decide they want to make muffins. 🙂
Becky
I’m so glad I found you Brandie about a month or so i’ve had made few of your recipes now Now I don’t need Betty Crocker LoL ???? The best banana bread and I am so picky about BB The only thing that I did different was I add black walnuts also!but other than that I’m so thankful I found you! For my go to recipes
Marie Czarnecki
Love bananas, will make this in the future!!!
Chelsey
What size baking pan?
Nicki S.
I love this recipe but would like to bake mini loaves, how long do you suppose I cook mini loaves for?
Kackie
I make mini loaves quite often. The pans I use are the disposable aluminum foil pans and most of the time they take about 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you for your helpful tip Kackie!!
Larissa
This is amazing! Will be bookmarking it and making it again for sure!
Brook
This is the best recipe! It turned out wonderfully!
Elizabeth Soumaya
Made this banana bread and it was very good. Hubby enjoyed it quite a bit. Always nice to have a good recipe to use those over ripe bananas in and this one’s a keeper. Thanks for sharing
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you Elizabeth! Always happy to hear when a recipe turns out wonderful!
Louise March
This banana bread looks really great! I was wondering if I could make cupcakes with this recipe. How long would I need to bake them - thank you Louise
La Morenita
I made this in a muffin /cupcake pan. They cooked for 30 minutes. They came out very moist.
D
My topping, passed down from Grandma, is simply brown sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Good recipe
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Sounds perfect to me!
Jonette
Can this banana bread be frozen with the streusel topping on it?
Victoria
Baked this awesome banana bread yesterday and there isn't much left. Hands down the best I've ever tasted and very easy to make.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
YES!! That is so awesome! Thank you for taking the time to come back and review!
Vincent Ortega
Hi, just wondering about the recipe; do you sift the flour? Thanks
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Vincent! Nope, I don't sift it. I just stir it all up with a fork first, then scoop and measure. 🙂
Michelle Leary aka Smiley
I've been wanting to make a banana nut bread for a while. I finally got up and did it. Yay. It's been awhile since I've made one. This recipe looks good. Just finished and popped it in the oven. Will let you know what I think of this recipe once it's out and has cooled down some. This picture of this bread is so pretty. Talk to you soon.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you Michelle!! Hope you loved it!!
Jackie A Court
I've misplaced my old banana nut bread recipe & this one looked very good. I just enjoyed my first piece & am very happy I couldn't find my old recipe!! This is the best. I just followed your instructions but did add extra cinnamon plus cinnamon to the crumble top. Delicious!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Woo hoo!! Yay! Thank you Jackie! This made me so happy to read!!
Marsha
This is the best banana bread! It's my "favorite "go to" recipe. Thanks for sharing it!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Thank you so much Marsha!
stefhenie
i have used this twice and both time my banana nut bread turned out GREAT
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Love, love, love hearing that!
Erin
What size loaf pan?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
The one I used is a 9x5 loaf pan. 🙂
Arlene Marshall
I 'd really love to try this!! How many bananas (cups) would I use for very large bananas? I don't want to use too much.
Thanks,
Arlene Marshall
Iz
I never measure the bananas for this recipe, I just add whatever I have, usually more than are called for. The recipe always comes out fine.
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Same. If you accidentally add a little too much - it'll be fine. 🙂
David
I made this using 5 large over-ripe bananas and not using the banana extract. Was a very good banana bread but next time I think I will use the optional extract to give it a bit more banana taste.
Michele
You can’t use too much!!! I usually use 4 large bananas and vanilla extract and it turns out great. I’ve even added a cup of vanilla yogurt a few times and it turns out great and very moist.
Deb Doyon
I would put more sugar in next time. 1/2 made the bread bland. I would try 3/4.
Brenda
I had exactly 3 bananas to get rid of. This was the perfect recipe for me. This recipe was super easy. I prepped everything and popped it in the oven under 20 minutes. I cooked it for 1 hour rather than 1 hour and 10 minutes. I found the outside to be a bit dry/hard. I liked that it didn't taste too sweet. I didn't have walnuts so I did it without.
Eddie
Did you bake in a glass or metal pan?
Gladys
This is a great recipe!!
Mary
How do you soften bananas frozen whole for your banana bread?
Charles Zimmer
So I was just explaining to my daughter all the things I didn’t like about this recipe, to which she replied “can I have another “.
Charles Zimmer
I m sorry I didn’t think this recipe was that great.
Kevina l foreman
If you prefer a less sweet version, this is perfect. I prefer it a little sweeter.
Angie Williams
This is in the oven as I write this. This is absolutely delicious. I've made it before....The streusel topping makes it that much more wonderful...Thank you, this is my new recipe.
Teresa
I've never seen baking powder used in banana bread instead of baking soda. Is this correct or a typo?
Brandie @ The Country Cook
It's correct Teresa! Hope you love it! 🙂
Teresa
Thank you for responding so promptly!
Jocelyn Franklin
Great recipe, turned out great, I only used 2 bananas and still seemed fine! I was thinking it may need a little more moisture though. Maybe a tblsp milk?
Denise
extra banana would add moisture.
Priya
I tried the recipe with out topping. It came out very Well. Thank you so much.
Jolene
Oh no! I just put this in the oven and noticed I left my melted butter sitting on the counter! I am hoping !!?!) that it will turn out...??
Fab
How did it turn out?
A
I loved the recipe. Tastes great. And it was done after about 40 minutes. Definitely did not need an hour.
Annie Mae
I know this is an old post, but was the butter measured before or after you melted it?
Brandie
Hi Annie, it is measured before.
Calina
Hello- not a huge fan of walnuts. Would you recommend almonds or peanuts as a substitute? And if so, should the almonds be raw or not? Thank you!
Brandie @ The Country Cook
Hi Calina! You can use whatever you prefer 🙂 I think pecans would be wonderful or you could just leave out the nuts.
Anonymous
Just made it. Absolutely delicious.
Anonymous
I left out the nuts, added an extra banana and made it into muffins and they turned out really good.
Brandie (The Country Cook)
The perfect recipe to turn into muffins. Sounds delicious!
Anonymous
Should I use salted or unsalted butter? 🙂
Brandie (The Country Cook)
In baking I always use unsalted but you can use salted and just omit the added salt called for in the recipe.
Tami Pallan
Made 2 loafs of the Banana Nut Bread w/out the struessel this afternoon..
So good I love nuts so I put 1 cup chopped walnuts instead of 1/2 cup. "MMM Good".
Anonymous
About to make this! But how long does it need to bake?
Brandie (The Country Cook)
Hey there Mandy, thanks for stopping by and I am so glad your family loves this banana bread recipe.
Mandy Weller
This is 1 great recipe. .my family ask for it when they want banana bread made! Ty Brandi ...your blog is just super dandy in all areas! ???? ???? hugs n Happy Holidays!
Mary Ann Wilson Braden
I just love this recipe. And look forward to seeing more of ur posts, and definetly sharing so others can enjoy ur great cooking
Jenni V
Hi! I know this is an old post, but your banana bread looks fabulous! I always have a difficult time with the middle part being done all the way. What kind of pan do you use? (Non-stick dark, glass, metal, etc)
Thanks!
Mary Ann Wilson Braden
Thank you so much for sharing this delicious bsnana nut bread, It is really the bomb, I am dharing so that my friends and family can enjoy tis as we all have
Eva B.
Sooo good! For my son I had to make a glutenfree banana bread. It was my first banana bread and it turned out delicous. To compensate the glutenfree flour, I took 4 Bananas and about 2,5 cups of flour. My son loves it which is thebest compliment. Thanks for the recipe.
Paula Vairinhos
Hello all and thanks for the tasty recipe. I have started my Sunday with your recipe and it came out so good. My Sunday coffee was excellent. It leaves a nice smell in the all house. Enjoy your day.
Wanda Bruster
I've made this recipe 4 times and I can't even keep it in the house. It's so good!
SarahC
Just made these but i used a muffin pan and only left them in for about 35-40 mins. They came out perfect and perfect for on the go! 🙂
Birdseed
Banana cake is always yummy. When bananas are starting to go black and you don't have time or have the energy to make a cake, they can be peeled and frozen. When you are ready to make a cake, just take them out of the freezer and within 10 minutes they are ready to use for baking.
Anonymous
You can freeze your bananas just in their skins as well. 🙂
Cheryl Byers
I did that and now I can't get the skins off very easily. Ill have to soak them in warm water i guess.
Lynda
Thanks for the tip; ours tend to go bad before we get to them. 🙁
Emma
SOOO GOOD. I opted to leave out the nuts and add chocolate chips. Nice and light and fluffy. Would definitely make again!
Crystal
I made this tonight without the topping. DELISH!!
Michelle P
I just made this without the nuts. The streusel topping was to die for! This is definitely going to be my new go-to when I have old bananas.
Anonymous
I always make 2 batches, never thought about cinnamon before! hubby will like it even better! 🙂
Shellie Masini
This looks wonderful!! Im wondering, when a recipe calls for All-purpose flour, is there any way to use Self-Rising rather than A.P.? Thanks for the suggestions-
Love all of your recipes, Brandi!! You make executing them so much easier than any other blog Ive read-
Thank you for that! Youre the best!! 🙂
Karen Dyck
I made this last night - it was amazing! thanks for sharing the recipe!! I want to post it on my facebook (with your link) to share
Donnaquilt
I'm going to get up early in the morning and pop this in the oven. My family will be blessed with the wonderful smells when it is baking. What a nice way to wake up!!
Thanks for sharing!! Donna
Art By ASM
I love everything about this! I am going to make this today and post it on my blog and link it back to you! I bet this streusel would be awesome on zucchini bread. I have some to use!
Lisa
Yum, I love banana bread and I love streusel. I can't imagine why I never thought of making one with the other. Thanks for linking this up to Sweets for a Saturday.
Catalina
I love bananas in any form and bread is one of my most favourite ones 🙂 Yours looks so exquisite! It's a great idea to sprinkle the bread with streusel (haven't thought of that before) - I'll have to try it next time when making bread 🙂
Melynda
Stopping by from Full Plate Thursday, I have made a lot of banana bread, but never with a topping. Looks great and I can't to make this version. Thanks.
Miz Helen
I love Farmers Market, it is so much fun! Your Banana Bread looks so good...We are going to really enjoy it here at Full Plate Thursday. Thank you so much for bringing it today and please come back!
Kori
Yum! Banana bread is a favorite in our house, but I've never made it with a topping. Might have to do that next time! 🙂
Moogie
Yum.... I'm your newest follower. http://moogieland.blogspot.com/
Mother Rimmy
I adore Streusel topping on anything! Add banana bread and this is perfect.
Sandra
Delicious! I love this recipe!
Annie
I love banana nut bread! Never would have thought of putting struesel on top. Ingenius!
Jill (jillpickle, jillpickle74)
Looks great! Jon is a banana nut! Have to give it a whirl for him 🙂
Lisa
Beautiful!
Cassandra
This looks yummy!
Ed Lock
Try this for increased flavor; sub coconut oil for 1/3 of butter, increase to 1/2 cup, use pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon, increase walnuts to 3/4 cup (toast lightly before adding......Yummy