Grandma’s Banana Bread
Grandma’s banana bread recipe is moist, tender, and loaded with sweet banana flavor in every bite. Made with just eight simple ingredients, it’s a family-friendly sweet bread that has been passed down for decades and never disappoints!
Love banana recipes? Try our easy banana muffins and healthy banana blondie bites, too!
This simple banana bread recipe was handed down by Shyanne, our editorial manager’s, grandma! The bread has a subtle crust and a soft center. It’s full of sweet flavor and tastes even better the next day.
Plus, it comes together with just eight staple ingredients, and you can easily add your favorite mix-ins to make it your own. We love to serve it topped with butter, but it’s equally delicious on its own. Try it for yourself, and you’ll never need another banana bread recipe again!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions for this recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Butter – We recommend using unsalted butter, but salted will also work. You’ll likely just want to omit the extra salt in the recipe.
- Sugar – Regular granulated sugar enhances the naturally sweet taste of the bananas. We haven’t tested this recipe with a sugar substitute, but it would probably work. We’d love to know how it goes if you do!
- Eggs – These provide structure to the bread, holding it all together. For easy mixing, allow the eggs to come to room temperature before you begin.
- Bananas – You’ll need three large, very ripe bananas. The riper they are, the easier they’ll blend, and the sweeter your bread will be!
- Flour – All-purpose flour forms the base of the bread dough. If you need a gluten-free option, try our gluten-free banana bread recipe instead!
- Baking Soda – Make sure it’s fresh! Otherwise, your bread won’t rise.
- Salt – This helps enhance the flavor of the rest of the ingredients.
- Buttermilk – This is our secret weapon to making this the moistest, most delicious recipe you’ll ever taste! Use store-bought buttermilk, or make homemade buttermilk instead!
Optional Mix-Ins
This easy banana bread recipe is plenty tasty on its own, but you can always add your favorite mix-ins, too! Some of our favorite options include:
- Chopped Walnuts or Pecans for banana nut bread
- Chopped Pecans
- Dark Chocolate Chips
- Milk Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Cinnamon
- Raisins
- Vanilla Extract
How to Ripen Bananas Quickly
Having extra ripe bananas is key to creating the best banana bread recipe. However, if yours are looking a little too yellow, you can quickly ripen them up with the options below!
- Place them in a paper bag on the counter.
- Bake them in the oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes.
How to Make Grandma’s Banana Bread Recipe
- Prepare the buttermilk. If making your own buttermilk, add one tablespoon of lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Then, fill the cup with milk until it reaches the one-cup mark. Whisk to combine, and set the mixture aside to curdle.
2. Cream the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream the softened butter, sugar, and eggs until well combined. Then, add in the mashed bananas.
3. Whisk the dry ingredients. In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. Combine. In small batches, alternatively, add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the banana mixture. Gently mix just until the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix!
5. Bake. Transfer the batter to a greased 9x5x3 metal loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cool. Allow the bread to cool slightly in the pan. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy on its own or with egg muffins for extra protein!
Note: If the bread is darkening too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil, and continue to bake until set.
Common Questions
Once cool, you can transfer leftovers to an airtight container, and store them at room temperature for up to three days or one week in the fridge.
Yes! Wrap the banana bread slices in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, and transfer them to a sealable bag. Then, freeze banana bread for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and enjoy cold. Or, reheat the slices in the microwave.
We haven’t tested it, but we think it should work! Prepare the batter as usual. Then, transfer it to a greased muffin tin, filling each cavity ⅔ of the way full. Bake until the banana muffins are fluffy and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
More Sweet Bread Recipes
Grandma’s Banana Bread Recipe (8 Ingredients)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup softened butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed (see notes)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9×5 metal loaf pan with cooking spray, and set it aside.
- If making homemade buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Then, fill the cup with milk until it reaches the 1 cup mark. Whisk to combine, and set the mixture aside to curdle.
- In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, sugar, and beaten eggs until well combined.1/2 cup softened butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 eggs, beaten
- Fold in the mashed bananas.3 very ripe bananas, mashed (see notes)
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined.2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- In small batches, alternatively add the dry ingredients and buttermilk to the banana mixture. Gently mix until the batter is combined. Be careful to not overmix!1 cup buttermilk
- Pour the batter into the greased pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the bread comes out clean. If the bread is darkening too quickly, place a piece of aluminum foil on the top while baking.
- Allow the bread to cool before slicing. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days, 1 week in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you enjoy this Grandma’s Banana Bread Recipe? We’d love it if you left a rating and review to let us know, and don’t forget to tag us in your recreations on Instagram!
Looking for the perfect banana bread? You’ve found it! When my friend, Shyanne, shared her grandma’s recipe with me I knew it would be good…but I didn’t expect it to knock my socks off. It is our go-to now! So darn yummy. 🙂