There’s nothing quite like the cozy aroma of old-fashioned banana bread baking in the oven—it’s pure comfort in loaf form! This classic recipe is simple, nostalgic, and perfect for using up those spotty bananas on your counter. Whether you enjoy it warm with a pat of butter or just plain with your morning coffee, this banana bread is the kind of treat that never goes out of style.
One of the most baked recipes in my house is Old Fashioned Banana Bread. It also happens to be one of my most requested recipes as well. My oldest son has always been a very picky eater, and I resorted to trying to get fruits and vegetables into him in sneaky ways. Things like cauliflower in mashed potatoes, whole tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes in my spaghetti sauce, and, of course, the ever-popular zucchini bread (although I don't call it zucchini bread!).
But his favorite has always been this Banana Bread. He has even asked for 2 whole loaves to himself in place of a birthday cake. Yes, he ate every last bite of those two loaves!

This recipe originated in a church cookbook. You know, the ones where everyone sends in their favorite recipes and then the church sells them as a fundraiser. Well, there was this recipe for banana bread where the ingredients were in a crazy order (not wet together and dry together like most recipes), and her note at the bottom said that she makes this bread in 2 coffee cans. Once it's cool, she removes it from the cans, rolls it in sugar, puts it back in the pan, and freezes it until needed.
Now THAT is what I call old school! And I LOVE old school!


Top Tip
If you only have nice, pretty yellow bananas but you are craving banana bread, bake the bananas (whole, with the peel) in a 350° oven for about 25 to 30 minutes. When the peel is completely black, take them out and let them cool. The fruit will be perfect for banana bread!


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Ingredients
The ingredients that are needed to make banana bread couldn't be simpler.

- All-purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Bananas
- Eggs
- Applesauce (or oil)
- Lemon Juice
- Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract
Instructions

- Step 1: Grease and line two 9x5 loaf pans.

- Step 2: Add the dry ingredients to a bowl and mix together well.

- Step 3: In another bowl, mash the bananas.

- Step 4: Add the rest of the wet ingredients to the bananas (including the sugar - it is considered a wet ingredient!). Mix together well.

5 Step 5:Fold the wet and dry ingredients together.

6 Step 6: Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans.

7 Step 7: Bake at 350F for 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven when the center is set. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

8 Step 8: Slice and serve!
Test
Test
Substitutions and Variations
- Gluten-free: To make this recipe gluten-free, replace the all-purpose flour with gluten free flour blend. I like Cup4Cup.
- Chocolate Chips: Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips to the batter before baking for a delicious combination.
- Add Dried Fruit: Stir in 1 cup of raisins or dried cranberries.
- PB and Banana: Slather some peanut butter on a slice of banana bread for an amazing treat!
Equipment
All you need to make Banana Bread is:
- Two loaf pans
- Parchment Paper
- Two Medium Bowls
- Spatula
- Masher
Storage
Store Banana Bread wrapped well in cling wrap at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Banana Bread freezes extremely well. Before freezing it, wrap well in cling wrap and then in foil or a freezer bag for a second layer of protection. Freeze for up to 3 months.
FAQ
Overmixing the batter is the top mistake that you can make when making banana bread. Mixing too long after adding the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients will create gluten strands in the batter. The more you mix, the tougher those gluten strands will become and the tougher your banana bread will be.
Generally, one medium banana is about ½ cup of mashed bananas.

Related
Try some of my other recipes from around the world!
Pairing
Pair this Old Fashioned Banana Bread with some of my other Breakfast Recipes.
Old Fashioned Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon ground flax seed optional
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- About 4 bananas about 2 cups
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup oil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans or line them with parchment paper.
- Add flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, flax seed and cinnamon. Stir together and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas until most clumps are gone. Add sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix together until incorporated.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and fold together until all of the flour is incorporated. Do not overmix.
- Divide the batter evenly between the two loaf pans.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted in the center of the loaves comes out clean.
- Let loaves cool in the pans for about 10 minutes then remove from pans to cool on a wire rack until completely cool. Wrap in foil or cling wrap and store at room temperature for up to 5 days or place fdouble-wrapped loaf in a freezer bag and freeze. This bread freezes wonderfully and can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Mickey Dwain Kitterman says
Loving your recipes as always. I love my banana bread with a big smear of cream cheese. Cheers.
Tanya Ott says
Oh, that sounds divine Mickey!
chefkreso says
What a lovely banana bread 😊