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    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Published: Jul 13, 2020 by Misty · This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.

    Easy and Moist Banana Bread

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    Slices of Banana Bread on cutting board with text overlay
    Slices of Banana Bread on cutting board with text overlay

    This easy Banana Bread recipe yields supremely moist, perfectly soft banana bread with bits of crunchy walnuts and coconut throughout. Whether made as muffins, loaves, or a bundt, it is an irresistible treat to serve for breakfast, feed to a brunch crowd, or freeze ahead.

    Slices of Easy and Moist Banana Bread on cutting board
    With the perfect golden crust and moist middle filled with walnuts and coconut, this banana bread is completely addicting!
    Skip to:
    • 🍌 Ingredients
    • 🥣 Instructions
    • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a Crowd
    • 🙋 Questions and Answers
    • 📖 More Breakfast Winners
    • 👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks
    • 👋 Connect with us!
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    The perfect banana bread recipe… it needs to be moist and tender, not dense and certainly not dry. It needs to have sweet banana flavor perfectly complemented with shredded coconut and crunchy walnuts. It needs to form a perfect crust on the top and stay wonderfully tender on the inside. 

    This, my friends, is that recipe. It was originally inspired by Ina Garten’s Banana Crunch Muffins, but I simplified the mix-ins and removed the chunky banana pieces. They do make fantastic muffins, but I prefer to make them in loaf pans and occasionally in a bundt pan.

    🍌 Ingredients

    Ingredients on counter
    This recipe requires basic baking ingredients along with bananas. Pro tip - the riper the bananas, the better!

    Flour: All-purpose white flour.
    Sugar: Just regular granulated sugar.
    Baking powder: Rising agent #1…
    Baking soda: Rising agent #2… Both create fluffy, tender bread!
    Salt: Kosher salt is best.
    Butter: Use real butter for the best flavor. Both salted and unsalted will work.
    Bananas: The riper the better! Choose bananas that are covered in black or brown spots and are very soft.
    Eggs: Use large eggs for best results.
    Milk: Whole milk is best, although I have had good results with 2% as well.
    Vanilla: I know it can be pricey, but this recipe really benefits from the vanilla. Don’t skip it if you have it.
    Walnuts: Just give them a quick chop before using. They add great texture to the bread. Feel free to use pecans, cashews, or macadamia nuts.
    Shredded/flaked coconut: Sweetened is a must. If you don't have or do not care for coconut feel free to omit it. No changes to the recipe are required.

    🥣 Instructions

    The batter starts by whisking the dry ingredients together to make sure there are no lumps. Then pour melted butter over the top and blend with a stand/hand mixer until it forms small lumps. In a separate bowl combine the wet ingredients. Combine well with the dry ingredients to form a thick batter. Then gently mix in the walnuts and shredded coconut.

    6 steps to make banana bread batter with coconut and walnuts
    The batter comes together in a few simple steps. Make sure to scrape the bowl regularly and don't overmix.

    Pour the batter into prepared loaf pans, muffin tins, or a bundt pan. Bake at 350°F until the bread is deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then dump and finish cooling on a wire rack. 

    Batter in loaf pans before and after baking
    Bake until golden brown and a firm crust has formed, testing with a toothpick to make sure it's done.

    👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For a Crowd

    This is a really fun recipe to serve for special brunch gatherings or even baby/bridal shower parties. The easiest way to serve to a crowd is to make it in a bundt pan, which will serve at least 14-18 people. You could also double the recipe to make additional loaves or muffins. If you double the recipe, I highly suggest making each recipe in its own mixing bowl. This will help prevent overmixing, which makes the bread tough and dense.

    🙋 Questions and Answers

    How do I tell when banana bread is done baking?

    Banana bread typically forms a firm crust on the top, which can make it look finished before it actually is. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with a few large crumbs.

    How do I prevent banana bread sinking in the middle?

    The biggest culprit of sinking banana bread is taking it out of the oven before it is finished. If the middle is still raw or too soft, it will collapse as it cools. Make sure to cook it until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or with a few large crumbs.

    How do I store banana bread and does it need refrigerated?

    Store banana bread in an airtight container or serving dish (such as a covered cake stand) at room temperature for 2-3 days. It isn’t necessary to store the bread in the fridge, but you most certainly can if you prefer it cold.

    Can I freeze banana bread?

    Yes, this is a great freezer bread! Allow it to cool all the way to room temperature, then wrap in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of tinfoil. Freeze for up to 3-4 months. Thaw at room temperature on the counter for a few hours or in the fridge overnight.

    Overhead slice of banana bread on cutting board
    Once the bread has cooled, slice and serve! Careful, it won't last long.

    📖 More Breakfast Winners

    • Need something everyone will love? You really can’t go wrong with this Lemon Curd Coffee Cake… it’s what breakfast dreams are made of!
    • Another lemon treat are these Lemon Scones. Drizzled with a bright lemon glaze, these are a fun breakfast option.
    • The ultimate breakfast side dish: easy, sweet, and perfectly crispy Oven-Baked Bacon. You’ll never cook bacon on the stove again!
    • For classic breakfast lovers, try these Famous Farm Buttermilk Pancakes. They’re moist, golden brown, and just begging for syrup 🤤.

    👨🏼‍🍳 Tips & Tricks

    • Use very ripe bananas for the most flavor (they should be heavily streaked with black and brown spots). Then mash them thoroughly until smooth to avoid chunks of banana in the bread. 
    • Fully incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients. If any dry spots are left, it won’t mix into the wet ingredients as well. 
    • Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula often. Ingredients tend to hide out at the bottom of the bowl or cling to the sides, so scrape, scrape scrape after each step. 

    👋 Connect with us!

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let us know how it is! We’d also love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag @borrowedbites or hashtag #borrowedbites to show us your food! To get our new recipes straight to your email, subscribe to our newsletter.

    📋 Recipe

    Slices of Banana Bread on cutting board

    Easy and Moist Banana Bread

    This easy Banana Bread recipe yields supremely moist, perfectly soft banana bread with bits of crunchy walnuts and coconut throughout. Whether made as muffins, loaves, or a bundt, it is an irresistible treat to serve for breakfast, feed to a brunch crowd, or freeze ahead.
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Bread, Breakfast, Brunch
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 377kcal
    Author: Borrowed Bites

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups flour
    • 2 cups sugar
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup butter melted and cooled
    • 3 ripe bananas mashed until smooth
    • 2 eggs
    • ¾ cup milk 2% or whole
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 cup walnuts chopped (or use pecans, cashews, macadamia)
    • 1 cup shredded coconut sweetened (optional)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 2 9" loaf pans with baking spray. **For muffin or bundt instructions, see notes.
    • In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined. Add the melted butter and mix on low speed using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Blend until butter is thoroughly incorporated and batter forms small lumps.
    • In a separate bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and mix on low until combined, scraping the bowl as needed. Batter will be slightly lumpy; don't overmix.
    • Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the walnuts and coconut. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
    • Allow to cool in loaf pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and finish cooling to room temperature on cooling rack. Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    Tips & Tricks
    • Use very ripe bananas for the most flavor (they should be heavily streaked with black and brown spots). Then mash them thoroughly until smooth to avoid chunks of banana in the bread. 
    • Fully incorporate the butter into the dry ingredients. If any dry spots are left, it won’t mix into the wet ingredients as well. 
    • Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula often. Ingredients tend to hide out at the bottom of the bowl or cling to the sides, so scrape, scrape scrape after each step.
     
    Muffin Instructions
    Line 2 muffin pans with paper liners or spray pan generously with baking spray. Divide batter evenly into 24 muffins. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then remove and finish cooling on cooling rack. 
     
    Bundt Instructions
    Spray 10" bundt pan generously with baking spray. Fill with batter and bake for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a cooling rack and allow to come to room temperature. 
     
    Freezer Instructions
    Allow bread to cool to room temperature, then wrap in a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of tinfoil. Freeze for up to 3-4 months. Thaw at room temperature on the counter for a few hours or in the fridge overnight.

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 324mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 403IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg

    All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.

    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating or pin it for later!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Aspen says

      August 17, 2022 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      Omg!!! This is the best banana bread I’ve ever had! And it was easy to boot. Totally making this again. It’s almost better than chocolate cake, and that’s my fave dessert. ❤️

      Reply
      • Danielle says

        August 18, 2022 at 10:05 am

        This is definitely a winner! Thanks for the taking time to let us know.

        Reply
    2. Tina says

      November 12, 2021 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for including instructions for muffins AND loaf pans AND bundt pan. I like not having to guess when I want to bake it a different way!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        November 13, 2021 at 10:36 am

        You're welcome! We don't like guessing either, and it's nice to have the flexibility to make it however you want!

        Reply
    3. Patricia says

      October 02, 2020 at 1:35 pm

      5 stars
      I made this in the muffin version this morning. SO good! It made 22 muffins for me, each filled to the top of the liner. I made a couple of changes to the recipe with the sugar. I wanted to use a little less sugar and I also wanted to use some brown. So I did 1 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of brown instead of 2 cups of white. Otherwise I followed the recipe exactly. They turned out amazing!

      Reply
      • Misty says

        October 02, 2020 at 1:40 pm

        Awesome, good idea to use both sugars. So glad they turned out well for you!

        Reply
    4. Sally says

      July 14, 2020 at 11:16 am

      5 stars
      Oh man.... the family devoured this bread! I followed the recipe exactly as is and it turned out great. I will try a Bundt pan next time.

      Reply
      • Misty says

        July 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm

        Love to hear you had happy eaters!

        Reply
        • Mia says

          December 09, 2022 at 6:05 pm

          What type of flour

          Reply
          • Danielle says

            December 09, 2022 at 6:07 pm

            Good question! If a recipe doesn’t specify which flour it means all purpose flour. Hope that helps.

            Reply

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