The Best Way to transform Overripe Bananas into Recipes

Banana bread – the ideal use for those over-ripe bananas! This recipe is a breeze to make – perfect when time is short. It’s moist and full of flavor from walnuts, banana slices and cinnamon. Experience the sweet smell of banana bread baking in your kitchen. Try this tasty Banana Bread today! Benefits of making banana bread Banana bread is a delicious way to use overripe bananas! It’s perfect for a snack or dessert. Plus, it’s good for you too. Bananas are full of vitamins and minerals. They have Vitamin B6 which helps your body process food. There’s folate…

Isabella Johnson
March 15, 2023
An illustration of overripe banana bread.
Overripe Banana Bread Recipe sliced
Overripe Banana Bread Recipe sliced

Banana bread – the ideal use for those over-ripe bananas! This recipe is a breeze to make – perfect when time is short. It’s moist and full of flavor from walnuts, banana slices and cinnamon. Experience the sweet smell of banana bread baking in your kitchen. Try this tasty Banana Bread today!

A slice of banana bread on a white plate.

Overripe Banana Bread

Discover the joy of turning those overripe bananas into a delightfully moist and sweet banana bread. This easy-to-make recipe is a perfect solution for avoiding food waste and satisfying your sweet tooth.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cost $5
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 322 kcal

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • 9×5 inch loaf pan
  • Mixer (optional)
  • Wire rack

Ingredients

  • 2-3 bananas mashed,overripe
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs large
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your loaf pan and set it aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
    1¾ cups all-purpose flour, 1½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
  • In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then, beat in the eggs, one at a time.
    ¾ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 eggs
  • Stir the vanilla and mashed bananas into the butter mixture.
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2-3 bananas
  • Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk until just combined.
    ½ cup buttermilk
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  • Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Notes: You can add ½ cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips to the batter for an extra bit of crunch and flavor. Check the bread for doneness at around 50 minutes as ovens may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 4gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 209mgPotassium: 145mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 508IUVitamin B1: 0.2mgVitamin B2: 0.2mgVitamin B3: 1mgVitamin B5: 0.4mgVitamin B6: 0.1mgVitamin B12: 0.2µgVitamin C: 2mgVitamin D: 1µgVitamin E: 1mgVitamin K: 1µgCalcium: 28mgCopper: 0.1mgFolate: 50µgIron: 1mgManganese: 0.2mgMagnesium: 14mgPhosphorus: 63mgZinc: 0.4mg
Keyword Baking, Banana, Banana Bread, Easy, Overripe Bananas, Quick Bread
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Benefits of making banana bread

Banana bread is a delicious way to use overripe bananas! It’s perfect for a snack or dessert. Plus, it’s good for you too.

Bananas are full of vitamins and minerals. They have Vitamin B6 which helps your body process food. There’s folate which helps cells stay healthy. Magnesium helps turn food into energy. Potassium helps balance the body’s fluids.

Banana bread is also a great source of fiber. Eating fiber helps you feel full without adding extra calories. It also helps keep your digestive system running smoothly. It can even help lower cholesterol and balance blood sugar.

You can make banana bread even healthier. Try using almond milk, whole wheat flour, and unsweetened applesauce instead of butter and white sugar. This will help reduce the calories and add more health benefits.

Supplies

Yum! Baking banana bread? You’ll need some supplies. Get the ingredients for your recipe. Plus, a loaf pan and some kitchen tools. Need to know what you’ll need? Here it is:

Ingredients

Gather these ingredients for yummy banana bread:

  • 3 mashed, ripe bananas (should be dark yellow and very soft)
  • 1 cup (200g) of granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup (120ml) of vegetable oil
  • ½ cup (120ml) of whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 2 cups (250g/9oz) of all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt

Optional extras: 1 cup of chopped nuts, 1 cup of chocolate chips, or 1 cup of dried fruit.

Equipment

Gather up all the supplies for banana bread. Quality matters – get the best stuff! To bake, you’ll need:

  • a large bowl
  • a hand whisk or electric mixer
  • measuring cups/spoons
  • rubber spatula
  • loaf pan
  • parchment paper (optional)
  • a cooling rack

Perfection awaits!

Preparation

Preparing banana bread is easy! Use super ripe bananas for the sweetest and moistest loaf. Now that you have your bananas, preheat the oven.

Gather these ingredients:

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Butter

Get ready and see what you need!

Preheat oven

Pre-baking your banana bread? Here’s what to do:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius).
  • Grease a 9-inch (22.9 cm) loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Or, line an 8×4 inch (20.3×10 cm) loaf pan with parchment paper.
  • Then, when the oven is heated, you can start baking!

Grease baking pan

Before you begin your banana bread, prepare your baking pan!

  • Grease the 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with butter, margarine, or oil like olive or canola.
  • Use a crumpled piece of parchment paper for precision, then discard it.
  • Rub vegetable oil for an effective non-stick solution. Shake out any excess fat for a thin layer.
  • Lastly, flour the bottom and sides for extra grip.

Now your pan is ready for the batter!

Mash bananas

Go for overripe bananas – the blacker, the better! Peel them, then put them in a bowl. Mash with a fork or potato masher until there are no large chunks. For an extra-luxurious texture, use a food processor. Mash the bananas until they are completely lump-free and creamy. That’s the key to great banana bread!

Mix wet ingredients

Mash 2-3 overripe bananas in a bowl with a fork. The texture should be creamy with no chunks.

Stir in melted butter or oil until combined. Add 1/2 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of brown sugar or coconut sugar.

Mix in two lightly beaten eggs. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Now the wet ingredients are ready to mix with the dry ingredients.

Mix dry ingredients

Before you start baking banana bread, gather your ingredients. Preheat the oven!

In a medium bowl, mix two and a half cups of all-purpose flour with one tsp of baking soda and one tsp of salt. This will make sure the banana bread cooks perfectly, no overcooked or undercooked spots.

Now you can mix up the wet ingredients!

Combine wet and dry ingredients

Turn your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a medium-sized loaf pan and grease it.

Grab a large bowl. Mash up the overripe bananas until they’re smooth. Add the melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is combined and set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl. Whisk until everything is blended. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ones. Don’t overmix. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake the banana bread for 50 minutes. Insert a skewer into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean, it’s done. Let it cool in the pan on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Turn it out onto the rack to cool completely.

Pour batter into pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C). Grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray.

Combine the wet and dry mixtures in a bowl. Mix with a rubber spatula or whisk until just blended. Don’t overmix; small lumps are OK. Make sure the flour on bottom of the bowl is fully incorporated.

  • If the batter is too thick, add milk.
  • If it’s too thin, add more flour.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread out evenly.

Bake for 45 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean from center of loaf.

Let cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto baking rack to cool completely.

Slice and serve banana bread with tea or coffee

Bake

Ready for banana bread? Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place a rack in the center position. Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan or spray with baking spray.

Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt) in a medium bowl. Set aside. In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Add the eggs, oil, and both sugars. Fold in the dry ingredients in two batches. Don’t overmix! Stir in any additional mix-ins. Walnuts? Chocolate chips?

Pour batter into the loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes to one hour, or until golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf should come out clean. Let cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice with a warm serrated knife.

Riped Banana Cake
Riped Banana Cake

Finishing Touches

Ready for your banana bread batter? Let’s get it as tasty as can be! Add some finishing touches:

  • Nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruits and other goodies can make it flavourful and scrumptious.
  • It’ll be a real treat for your family and friends.
  • Enhance the flavour and texture of the banana bread.

Decorate top of bread

Once your banana bread’s cooled, finish it off! Sprinkle on some granulated sugar for simplicity, or add some pecans, walnuts, coconut flakes, chocolate chips, or white chocolate chips. For an extra wow factor, dust the top with icing sugar. Or, spread over some whipped cream cheese frosting. Use a large spoon to cover the top so most of it’s covered.

Let cool before slicing

Once your banana bread is finished baking, cool it completely before slicing. Take the loaf from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Air will circulate around the entire pan, keeping the same temperature throughout. Let the loaf cool for at least one hour.

If you’re in a hurry, pop it in the fridge or freezer for 10-15 minutes. But, make sure to cool it on the wire rack first. If not, condensation on the surface could make soggy patches.

Serving

Banana bread – yum! It’s a great way to use overripe bananas. What a versatile treat! Serve it for an afternoon snack, dessert or even breakfast. Everyone will be delighted.

So, let’s figure out the best way to serve it up to get the most out of your recipe:

Suggested toppings

Transform classic banana bread into something extra special with these topping suggestions!

  • Vanilla bean ice cream for a creamy, dreamy addition.
  • Warm caramel sauce for luscious indulgence.
  • Chopped hazelnuts for crunch and nutty flavor.
  • Chopped dark chocolate for extra sweetness.
  • Whipped cream for a heavenly finish.

Serving suggestions

Once banana bread is cooked, wait 10 minutes before taking it out of the pan. This helps the heat spread evenly throughout the loaf. Wait 30 minutes for the center to cool before slicing it into ⅓-inch pieces.

Butter and a hot cup of coffee or tea make a great breakfast or snack. Sprinkle nuts and cinnamon for a crunchy twist. Alternatively, spread some peanut butter or jelly for a delicious treat. Room temperature cream cheese is also a yummy accompaniment – spread over each slice or dab onto individual pieces.

For a larger meal, pair this delectable bread with soup or salad. Enjoy it any way you can think of!

Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients do I need to make banana bread?

You will need the following ingredients to make banana bread: 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, a pinch of salt, 1/2 cup of butter (at room temperature), 1 cup of white sugar, 2 eggs (at room temperature), 4 overripe bananas (mashed), 1/2 cup of walnuts (optional).

How do I properly mash bananas for banana bread?

To properly mash bananas for banana bread, you will need to peel the bananas and place them in a bowl. Mash the bananas with a fork until they are smooth and free of lumps. You can also use a blender or food processor to mash the bananas, if desired.

How long should I bake banana bread?

Banana bread should be baked for approximately 45 minutes at 350°F. It is important to check the bread for doneness before removing it from the oven. To do this, insert a toothpick into the center of the bread. If the toothpick comes out clean, the bread is done baking.