This Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe is hands down the best banana bread on the internet. Not only does it look like it came from the page of a magazine, but it’s soft, moist, tangy, sweet, and perfectly spiced. Featuring a simple batter and an optional cinnamon sugar swirl, it’s truly decadent in flavor while remaining easy to prepare.
The Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe
I’m sure you’ve had banana bread, but I guarantee you’ve never had banana bread like this before! After all, it’s not called the ultimate banana bread recipe for nothing.
It starts with a basic batter of flour and mashed bananas. Then, we include sour cream to keep it moist and add a nice tang along with granulated and dark brown sugar and warm spices for an elevated taste.
As if that wasn’t tempting enough, we finish this bread with a sweet cinnamon sugar swirl and place a sliced banana on top. Once baked, the bread is soft, fluffy, and loaded with incredible flavor in every bite.
It’s perfect for a delicious breakfast or afternoon snack. Plus, it stores well meaning you can bake it ahead of time or even give it away as gifts. Just be warned that it always disappears fast!
More Amazing Banana Treats
- Banana Bars with Chocolate Chips
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Easy Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe Ingredients
Brown Butter: Brown butter has a deep, rich, nutty flavor that pairs well with the banana and cinnamon flavors.
Eggs: This ultimate banana bread recipe uses two large eggs which contribute to the soft texture and help the bread hold its shape.
Banana: This banana bread with cinnamon obviously calls for banana. I used about 1 1/2 cups of overripe banana plus a sliced banana in this recipe. And, before you ask, yes, you need an overripe banana — the blacker the better. If you were ever asking what to do with your overripe bananas, you now have your answer. Overripe bananas provide the best flavor for this bread, as they provide an extra sweetness and an intensified banana flavor.
Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar helps sweeten the batter. Using brown sugar and granulated sugar together creates the perfect banana bread that is soft and moist in the center with a lightly crisped exterior.
Brown Sugar: Brown sugar contributes to the rich, caramel-like flavor of the bread and provides additional moisture, which aids in achieving the perfect soft texture.
Flour: We are using all-purpose flour to form the base of the batter. However, if you need this bread to be gluten-free I recommend using a 1 to 1 all-purpose gluten-free flour. KING ARTHUR and CUP 4 CUP are two great options.
Sour Cream: This adds a subtle tang that balances out the sweetness of the sugar and contributes to the tender texture.
Spices: Cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt infuse the bread with warm flavor that adds lots of depth and balances the sweetness of the sugar enhancing the bread’s overall flavor.
Baking Soda: A leavener, this ensures the bread rises in the oven.
Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract to add delicous vanilla flavor throughout the batter.
How to Make This Ultimate Banana Bread
Step 1. Before you begin, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9×5 loaf pan with butter or cooking spray.
Step 2: Make the brown butter. To do so, add the diced butter to a small skillet or pot. Heat the skillet to medium heat, allowing the butter to melt and bubble. As it “cooks” it will change from a bright yellow color to a golden brown color. You will know the butter has “browned” when you see brown bits beginning to form in the bottom of the skillet. Remove the butter from the heat, and transfer it to a heat-safe dish to cool.
Step 3. If you’re looking for a little razzle dazzle, you can make the cinnamon sugar topping by mixing the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. This cinnamon-sugar is optional.
Step 4. Next, make the banana bread batter. To do so, add the brown butter, mashed banana, spices, sugars, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl. Stir until well combined. Then, add the sour cream and egg, and stir again until well mixed.
Step 5. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into the banana bread batter. Mix until the flour is well incorporated being careful not to overmix. Then, transfer about half the batter to the prepared loaf pan.
Step 6. Next, add your cinnamon sugar mixture on top, reserving about 2 tablespoons. Then, add the remaining batter, smoothing it out with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon brown sugar mixture evenly on top, and use a knife to swirl the batter and distribute the cinnamon sugar throughout the bread. Do not over-swirl!
Step 7. Next, slice one banana in half, and press it into the top of the loaf cut side up. Transfer the bread to the preheated oven, and bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean with only a few small crumbs on the end.
Step 8. Remove the bread from the oven, and let it cool in the pan for 45 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Once cool, slice, serve, and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks for the Best Banana Bread
- Measure the flour with a food scale or the scoop and level method.
- Be sure to use room ingredients.
- Make sure your brown butter is cooled before adding to the batter. You want to thoroughly beat the butter with the other ingredients, which requires your butter to be at room temperature. This step will ensure you have the best texture.
- You want overripe bananas here! You want to mash your bananas and measure 1 1/2 cups. Using too much banana could change the texture of the bread.
- Mash the bananas thoroughly to create a smooth consistency in the batter. This ensures an even distribution of banana flavor throughout the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add mix-ins?
This banana bread already has a lot going on, but if you want to add even more, you can gently fold mix-ins like chopped nuts or chocolate chips into the batter.
How long does this bread last?
In my house, usually not more than a few hours! However, if you have a little more willpower, leftovers will stay fresh in a sealable bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Can I freeze banana bread with cinnamon?
Yes! This ultimate banana bread recipe freezes well for up to 3-4 months. To keep it fresh, allow the bread to cool completely. Then, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. For extra measure, I like to transfer it to a sealable bag, too. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature when you’re ready to serve, and it will taste as good as new!
Can I use frozen bananas?
You can use frozen bananas as long as you thaw them first and drain off any excess liquid. Just note that this can cause your banana bread to become a little more soggy and might have a slightly different taste. If possible, I always recommend using fresh, overripe bananas!
More Cinnamon-Infused Desserts
- Delicious Apple Turnover Recipe With Puff Pastry
- The Best Cinnamon Cookies Recipe
- Honey Bun Cake
- Moist & Flavorful Pumpkin Muffins
I hope you love this Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe! It is absolutely delicious and easy to make. If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @butterloveandsalt on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support Butter, Love & Salt and make it possible for me to continue to create delicious recipes.
Ultimate Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Banana Bread
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter browned
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups banana about 3-4 ripe bananas, plus 1 more banana for topping
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/8 tsp ginger
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon Swirl, optional
- 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
- Then, make the brown butter. Add the diced butter to a small skillet or pot. Heat the skillet to medium heat. The butter will start to melt as the skillet heats up. Allow the butter to bubble and “cook” until it begins to change from a bright yellow color to a golden brown color. You will know the butter has “browned” when you see brown bits beginning to form in the bottom of the skillet. Remove the butter from the heat and transfer to a heat safe dish to cool while you make the banana bread.
- If you’re looking for a little razzle dazzle, you can make the cinnamon sugar topping by mixing the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Once mixed, set it aside. Note, the cinnamon-sugar is optional.
- Next, make the banana bread batter. In a large mixing bowl add the brown butter, mashed banana, spices, sugars, and vanilla extract. Stir until well combined. Next, add the sour cream and eggs and stir until well mixed.
- Then, sift flour, baking soda, and salt into the banana bread batter. Mix until the flour is well incorporated, but be sure not to over mix.
- Next, transfer about half of the batter to the loaf pan. Then, add your cinnamon-sugar mixture on top of the batter, but reserve about 2 tbsp for the top. Then, add the remaining batter. Smooth the top with the back of a spoon and then add the remaining 2 tbsp of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Use a knife to swirl the batter to create cinnamon-sugar swirls, but do not over swirl.
- Next, slice one banana in half and press it into the top of the loaf, cut side up. Then, put the bread in the preheated oven and bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean with only a few small crumbs on the end.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let the bread cool in the pan for 45 minutes before removing it from the pan and onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely. Once cool, slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Measure the flour with a food scale or the scoop and level method.
- Be sure to use room ingredients.
- Make sure your brown butter is cooled before adding to the batter. You want to thoroughly beat the butter with the other ingredients, which requires your butter to be at room temperature. This step will ensure you have the best texture.
- You want overripe bananas here! You want to mash your bananas and measure 1 1/2 cups. Using too much banana could change the texture of the bread.
- Mash the bananas thoroughly to create a smooth consistency in the batter. This ensures an even distribution of banana flavor throughout the recipe.
Nutritional Information
Recipe by: Chavez Adams / Butter, Love & Salt | Photography by:Meg McKeehan
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