The Best Banana Bread

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The best banana bread mixes all purpose flour and whole wheat flour with applesauce, bananas, and spices for a delicious bread that can be topped off with a buttercream frosting.  This post originally published in August 2010.

A white platter with a loaf of banana bread with a slice cut off and a bunch of bananas behind the platter.

We buy bananas at the grocery store every other week. We like bananas; they make a healthy snack, a quick breakfast on the go, and they help to prevent leg cramps.

I also like the fact that if we don’t eat all the bananas we buy then I get to make banana bread. I think my husband likes this too because my simple banana bread is always one of his favorites.

Ready to hear something crazy?   This banana bread recipe is the second recipe I ever posted on my blog.  It’s from way back in August 2010 and I still make this recipe, with a few tweaks, to this day.

I have a lot of banana bread recipes on here because we eat it a lot. These Banana Bread Cookies are so good and perfect for extra ripe bananas. I also have a super yummy Eggnog Banana Bread that is great around the holidays.  Gluten free?  No problem!  We have The Best Gluten Free Banana Bread recipe as well.

Ingredients:

  • all purpose flour
  • whole wheat flour
  • baking powder
  • salt
  • butter
  • brown sugar
  • eggs
  • vanilla
  • applesauce
  • bananas
  • powdered sugar

To make the bread:   Combine the flours, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.  Set aside.  In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar.   Add in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the applesauce.   Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix for about 20 strokes.   Smash the bananas and mix until just combined.  Pour into a loaf pan and bake for 1 hour.

To make the buttercream frosting:   Cream the butter in a medium bowl. Add in the vanilla and mix well.  Stir in the powdered sugar a half cup at a time until desired consistency is reached.   Spread on cooled bread.

A loaf pan with banana bread in it.

Whenever I make bananas bread there are really 3 choices I need to make.   I either make it plain, with a simple glaze, or with buttercream frosting.  I’ve included the buttercream frosting recipe below but you can leave your bread plain as well.

If you have kids you can give them the job of mashing bananas.  It’s fun to let them mash them with their hands or put the bananas in a bag and let them punch the bag until the bananas are mashed. .

How do I get bananas to ripen quickly?

Since you need ripened bananas for this recipe sometimes you need to speed up the process.  Place the bananas in a paper bag with either an already ripened banana or an apple and fold down the opening of the bag.  Your bananas will ripe n in a day or two.

Another way to ripen then quickly is to place unpeeled bananas on a foil lined baking sheet  Bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes and your bananas will be ripe.

Can I make a glaze for the bread instead of frosting?

Yes!  Simply mix together powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla, and a small amount of milk and whisk until smooth.  Drizzle over top of the bread once it’s cool.

How do I mash the bananas?

Honestly, if they are ripe enough I just put them in my hands and squeeze them until they are mashed.   You can also use a fork and place the bananas in a bowl and mash them with the fork.  You can also use your hand mixer to mash the bananas by cutting them into pieces and starting the mixer on low and increasing until the bananas are mixed.

Can I freeze banana bread?

You sure can!   Make sure to cool the banana bread completely. Do not frost or glaze before freezing. Cut into slices.   Wrap 1-2 slices in a piece of plastic wrap then put 2-3 bundles of the plastic wrapped bread in a freezer bag.  Freeze for 3-4 months.

To defrost remove a plastic wrapped bundle from the freezer and put in the refrigerator over night or leave out for 1-2 hours on the counter and enjoy!

Pin Image:  A white platter with a loaf of banana bread with a slice cut off and a bunch of bananas behind the platter, text, a cutting board with a cup of flour, a cup of brown sugar, 2 eggs, a container of applesauce, a bunch of bananas, a stick of butter, and a container of vanilla.

So my husband bought a huge bunch of bananas last weekend and there were several left and they were going bad.  I suggested that I make my banana bread and my husband was thrilled because I haven’t made my basic recipe in a year or two.

I whipped up the bread and put it in the oven.   Once it was cooling I made a small amount of buttercream frosting and spread it over the top.

The bread was moist and perfectly spiced.  You can leave the spices out or add in whatever spices you enjoy.  I usually use cinnamon but I had Penzey’s baking spice and used that because it’s just so good.  The buttercream frosting on the top just adds a bit more sweetness which makes this bread a little more like a dessert.

A white platter with a loaf of banana bread with a slice cut from it and a bunch of bananas behind it.

More Banana Recipes:

If you’ve tried my The Best Banana Bread or any other recipe on Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:

A white platter with a loaf of banana bread with a slice cut off and a bunch of bananas behind the platter.

The Best Banana Bread

The best banana bread mixes all purpose flour and whole wheat flour with applesauce, bananas, and spices for a delicious breakfast bread.
5 from 15 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Author: Hezzi-D

Ingredients

For the bread:

  • 1 c. all purpose flour
  • 3/4 c. whole wheat flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon or baking spice
  • 4 Tablespoons butter softened
  • 2/3 c. brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/2 c. applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon or baking spice
  • 2-3 ripe bananas

For the buttercream frosting (optional):

  • 4 Tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl combine the all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
  • In another bowl cream together the butter and brown sugar.
  • Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix well until combined. Stir in the applesauce.
  • Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until the batter starts to come together.
  • Mash the bananas and add them to the batter. Mix until just combined.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for one hour.
  • Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
  • To make the frosting beat the butter in a medium bowl with a mixer on medium speed. Add in the vanilla and mix well.
  • Add the powdered sugar a half cup at a time or until desired consistency is reached.
  • Spread the frosting over top of the bread and let rest 15 minutes before cutting.

Notes

A Hezzi-D original recipe
A white platter with banana bread topped with frosting and a slice cut from it.

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