Wonderfully light in texture, but big on banana flavour, this 2-banana banana bread is the perfect use for your over-ripe bananas.
I seem to have a never ending supply of over-ripe bananas, but somehow, I always end up with just two stragglers. I was highly motivated to find a great banana bread recipe that needed only 2 bananas and this is the one that has served me well for years.
While this 2-Banana Banana Bread is light in colour and texture, it is big on banana flavour, even with just 2 bananas. It needs only regular pantry items, too. And best of all, it will fill your house with all the wonderful baking smells! You will have a hard time waiting for this one to cool before grabbing a slice. (It has the loveliest crust, too – lightly crisp and perfect for slicing.)
This banana bread will keep well for several days, wrapped and stored on the counter or freeze extras for later. I think you’ll also love that this banana bread is fairly light in fat and sugar, too!
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need …
Bananas: Obviously, the more ripe the bananas, the bigger the banana flavour. That said, I have made this bread with bananas that are just starting to form brown spots with success. Unless you have super small bananas, you will only need 2 bananas here. If you have a little less or a little more than 1 cup of mashed bananas, no worries. Just use it all.
Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter here. I like unsalted myself, if I have it on hand. If using salted butter, reduce the added salt in the flour mixture slightly.
White Sugar: I haven’t tested this recipe with less sugar, but if you are needing to reduce added sugar, you could probably reduce to 1/2 cup. It will, of course, affect the sweetness of the finished loaf, but also possibly reduce the banana flavour, as the sugar works to enhance the banana flavour, as well.
Eggs: Have your eggs at room temperature before baking, for best results. Removing from the fridge 20-30 minutes ahead should do it. I used free-range eggs here, which are quite a bright yellow. Yours batter may be paler in colour.
All-purpose flour: I am a bread baker, so I always have unbleached flour on hand, so that’s what I used here. I don’t think a bleached all-purpose will change the results at all. I haven’t tested this recipe with alternate flours.
Baking powder, baking soda and salt
Instructions
1. Be sure your butter is just at room temperature, then add to the mixing bowl, together with the white sugar.
2. Beat the butter/sugar mixture for 2-3 minutes, until it is light in colour. Don’t skimp on time here, as this process is important to the finished texture of your loaf.
3. Add the eggs, one a a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl well, to catch any bits of butter that haven’t incorporated into the mixture.
5. How your batter will look after both eggs have been added and mixed well.
6. Add the flour mixture (whisked together with the baking soda, baking powder and salt) to the batter, alternating with the mashed banana. That means adding 1/3 of the flour, then 1/2 of the bananas, then the second 1/3 of flour, the remaining bananas and finally the remaining flour. Mix until well combined.
7. Grab your loaf pan, prepared with a sheet of parchment paper that covers the bottom and long sides of the pan. I find spraying the loaf pan first helps the parchment to stick to the sides and not fall into the pan when adding the batter. I don’t feel you generally need to line the ends of the pans, unless the loaf is super sticky.
8. Add the batter to your prepared loaf pan and level the top.
Be sure your oven is preheated and bake. Every time I bake this loaf it takes a different amount of time, anywhere from 45 minutes to 55 minutes. Start looking at the loaf at about the 40 minute mark. If the loaf is still pale, let it bake longer, before opening the oven and testing. The loaf is approaching done when the top is turning quite golden and cracked. When it starts to look like that, use a tester to test it. The loaf is done when a tester comes out clean when inserted in the centre of the loaf.
Recipe Video
FAQ
How do I store the baked banana bread: Once cooled completely, store this bread at room temperature, well-wrapped.
Can you freeze banana bread? Yes! This bread will freeze well, tightly wrapped, up to 2 months.
Can I use a different size loaf pan? An 8×4-inch loaf pan is recommended, for best results. While it seems it should be possible to use the larger 9×5-loaf pan and make a shorter/wider loaf, some people have had issues with the loaf not baking all the way through when using the larger pan size. I haven’t tested this, so I can’t say if it always happens or not. You may be able to manage it by covering the top loosely with aluminum foil to stop it from over-browning, while continuing to let it cook longer so it will cook through completely.
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Get the Recipe: 2 Banana Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and levelled
- 2 teaspoons (8 g) baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, reduce slightly if using salted butter
- 1/3 cup (75 g) butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup (130 g) white sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup (227 ml) bananas, mashed, about 2 medium, very-ripe bananas
Equipment
- Electric or stand mixer
- 8x4-inch glass or metal loaf pan
- Parchment paper (optional, for easy removal)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (not fan-assisted/convection) with rack in centre of oven. *Reduce oven temperature by 25F for glass pans.
- Prepare an 8.5 x4.5-inch metal loaf pan (at least 2 1/2 inches deep) by spraying with cooking spray, then lining the bottom and sides with a sheet of parchment paper that extends about 1-inch over the sides, to use as handles to remove the loaf after baking. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together well the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl with an electric mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the room temperature butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition and scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- With mixer on low, add the flour mixture, alternately with the mashed bananas (add 1/3 flour mixture, then 1/2 the bananas, then more flour, then remaining banana, ending with the remaining flour). Mix until well combined, then give it a quick, 15-second beat.
- Pour batter into prepared 8x4-inch loaf pan and level top.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the centre comes out clean. *Start checking the loaf at about 40 minutes. If the top is still quite pale, no need to test. Start testing when the top is cracked and turning golden.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 10 minutes, then remove from the baking pan, gently remove the parchment paper and allow to cool further or completely on a baking rack.
Notes
More banana recipes you might like …
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
So easy and so yummy!!! I am very new to baking and this could not have been easier so thank you!!
I’m so pleased to hear, Micayla :) Thanks so much!
Hands down the best banana loaf recipe I have ever tried, there was a perfect crust around the outside and it is so dense yet light and fluffy at the same time! So perfect for toasting a slice and then layering in salted butter 🤩
So glad you enjoyed it, Ashley :) Thanks so much!
Forgot to rate it. 5 star all the way!
Absolutely delicious.
Followed the recipe and made a delicious moist banana bread. My family loved it!Â
So glad to hear, Kay. Thanks so much!
My boys loved this recipe! I made it into muffins, added nuts and flax seed and substituted white whole wheat flour for regular- gave them some extra fiber.Â
Happy to hear, Amy :) Thanks so much!
Absolutely love this recipe, making a double batch next time. I added a topping to mine
2Tbsp  Light brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 dark chocolate chipsÂ
1/4 cup finely chopped pecansÂ
I mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together sprinkle on top the add by eye how much pecans and chocolate chips I want on top. A must try so delicious.
Glad you’re enjoying it, Diane and thanks for sharing your topping. Sounds delicious!
This was excellent. Will def make again. My bananas weren’t darkly spotted but my wife assures me that it made it more banana flavor vs just sweet- so score! I used Splenda brown sugar sweetener and was a bit concerned but it turned out amazing. So yes, you CAN make this sugar free (ofc w the sugar of the bananas too). Perfect crack down the middle, it was amazing. Will definitely be making this one again.
So glad to hear! And always good to know when sugar substitutes work out well, so thanks for letting me know that. Thanks :)
I searched for recipe that called for two bananas. Just pulled out of oven. Can’t wait to taste. Kitchen smells great!
Enjoy Alberta!
I am not a baker, this recipe was so easy to follow. I also added vanilla and a little cinnamon. I did not have a mixer so I just used a spatula and whisk, it came together beautifully. I highly recommend this recipe. *chefs kiss*Â
Thanks Sam :) So glad you enjoyed it!
Can I substitute self-rising flour?
Hi Joyce and no, self-rising flour would not work here as a direct substitute. As self-rising flour already has leaveners and salt in it, at the very least, you would have to adjust the recipe to account for that.
I have used this recipe more then once it comes out perfect every time love it
So glad you are enjoying it, Laureen :) Thanks so much!
I always have two stray bananas. So this is a great recipe for using them. Came out light and fluffy but plenty of banana flavor. I added a quarter cup of mini chocolate chips, because I love banana chocolate chip. I’ve baked this in a regular loaf pan, but I happened to have a disposable 7 1/2 by 4 1/2 pan, and it came out great.
So glad you are enjoying it, Karen. Thanks!
Hi, wonderful recipe as I always seem to have 2 overripe bananas headed for compost…
Question: why the parchment paper? I’ve never used that when cooking a loaf of anything. Is there some reason why this particular recipe won’t come out of the pan cleanly?Â
Thanks!Â
So glad you enjoyed it, Annik :) I almost always use parchment paper with loaves, simply because it guarantees the loaf will come out perfectly. It’s a simple addition and it removes any doubt about whether a particular loaf will release easily. Nothing worse than a loaf that only comes partly out of the pan.
I never leave recipe reviews but I had to stop and say that this remains the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever tried, and I’ve made a lot of banana bread over the years. It is super simple, beginner friendly and yields a perfect fluffy loaf each time. I highly recommend, and will be checking out more recipes from you in the future
So glad you are enjoying it, Sharon :) Thanks so much for leaving a review!