Easy banana bread, a super simple bake and a great way of using up those bananas that are looking a little past their best. A great bake for kids.
Our easy banana bread is one of those recipes that we have meant to put on the blog for a long time. Michelle has made this recipe for years, it’s a simple bake. A great cake for beginners, which uses ingredients that most of us have in our store cupboards.
However, when making this bread we recommend not using fresh green or yellow bananas. In fact banana bread is one of the best ways of making use of overripe bananas. The more ripe and blacker the banana the sweeter the bread. I have been know to allow bananas to completely blacken, with the sole purpose of making banana bread. Also worth mentioning, bananas can be frozen. Once past their best, just pop them whole, with the skin on, into the freezer. Take out of the freezer and defrost in a bowl when you are ready to bake.
Recipe steps:
Prepare the ingredients for the bake Line the loaf tin with baking parchment Add the flour, sugar, butter, syrup and eggs together in a large mixing bowl Mix well to combine all the ingredients Add the mashed banana to the cake mix Stir the banana into the cake mix and ensure well combined Pour the cake batter into the loaf tin and pop in the oven Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack
Varying the recipe:
This is a basic recipe, however, one that you can easily adapt. If you like nuts then some chopped walnuts add a lovely crunch to this bread, simply stir through the cake batter before popping it in the loaf tin. Likewise, you can add some milk or dark chocolate chips for a banana and chocolate bread.
Storing the bread:
To keep this bread moist, wrap it in foil and place it in an airtight container. Otherwise the bread will dry out really quickly.
How do I know the banana loaf is cooked?
The simplest method of checking that any loaf or cake is cooked is to use the toothpick method. When the cook time is up, simply insert a toothpick or skewer into the centre of the cake, if it comes out clean it is cooked through and can be removed from the oven. If there is still some cake batter on the toothpick, return the banana loaf to the oven for a little longer.
Can you freeze banana bread?
This simple fruit bread can be easily frozen. Once baked, simply allow to cool thoroughly, before wrapping in grease-proof paper, placing it in a suitable container and popping it in the freezer.
Pin the recipe for later:
Additional recipe suggestions:
If you like this simple bake then try our Orange Sponge Cake, or our Victoria Sponge.
For more baking inspiration, particularly when baking with Children, then have a read of our Ultimate Guide to Baking with Kids, where you will find a wealth of recipes and ideas.
Easy Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 225 g self raising flour
- 100 g soft butter
- 50 g soft brown sugar
- 4 eggs – medium
- 4 tbsp golden syrup
- 4 bananas – overripe (see notes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160 C Fan (180 C non fan) and
- Line a 2lb loaf tin with baking parchment or loaf tin lining.
- In a small bowl, mash the bananas until smooth.
- In a large bowl, add all ingredients, except bananas and mix just until incorporated. Do not over mix as you want to keep some texture in the loaf.
- Add the mashed banana to the batter and mix gently with a fork until incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 55-60 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Notes
This recipe has been shared to CookBlogShare where you will find other recipes by fellow food bloggers.
louise Gunstone
I love banana cake (especially with a nice cup of tea) and this sounds nice and simple. It takes me back to being a kid and Mum making it for me and my brother.
Lesley
Thank you Louise, it’s a favourite in our house too. I love banana bread and agree it’s perfect with a cup of tea. Lesley x
Jo Allison
Banana bread is such a classic and there are as many recipes as there are households I recon lol. We make one at least every other week as you simply cannot beat it. Love the sound of your recipe too and how beautifully moist your loaf is! Yum!
Lesley
Thank you Jo, yes it is a very popular bake in our house too and one my daughter loves to bake for us – I don’t stop her! I’ve always a supply of black bananas in the freezer ready to bake when the fancy takes me! Lesley x
Chloe Edges
I don’t think I’ve ever actually made a decent banana bread. I’ll give this a go – it looks like a winner!
Lesley
Thank you Chloe, I do love a good banana bread. I buy bananas and allow them to blacken just so I can bake. Lesley
Jacqui – Recipes Made Easy:Only Crumbs Remain
I love banana bread it was one of the 1st recipes I put on my blog and I have been meaning to update mine for ages. Yours is similar but has less sugar and more eggs I may have to make both and taste test but only as an excuse to make two banana bread you understand. Any excuse
Lesley
I’m laughing Jacqui, what better excuse indeed. I’m not sure why it’s taken so king to get a banana bread recipe on our blog as we both make versions of it all the time. Lesley x
Cat | Curly's Cooking
I love banana bread and yours looks perfect! I have some blackened bananas in my freezer as we speak for when the banana bread urge takes over.
Lesley
Thank you Cat, like you I always keep a supply of black bananas in the freezer. I might have to get my eldest to bake one today! Lesley