Easy Banana Bread Recipe
This easy banana bread recipe is a moist, tender quick bread made with ripe bananas, mayonnaise for richness, and optional pecans for a crunchy texture. Perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert, it’s simple to prepare and requires no special equipment beyond a loaf pan and an oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (8 slices) 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 medium bananas (about 1 cup mashed)
- ½ cup mayonnaise (or dressing)
- 1 egg (room temperature)
Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan thoroughly and set it aside to ensure the banana bread doesn’t stick.
- Mash Bananas and Mix Wet Ingredients: Using a fork, mash the bananas in a medium bowl until smooth. To this, add the mayonnaise and room temperature egg, mixing well to combine the wet ingredients evenly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, and chopped pecans if using, ensuring an even distribution of leavening and flavorings.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with dry ingredients. Stir gently just until everything is combined; the batter will be thick. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
- Transfer and Bake: Pour the thick batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool Before Slicing: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for several minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack and allow it to cool completely before slicing to ensure clean slices and ideal texture.
Notes
- Mayonnaise adds moisture and richness without overpowering the banana flavor; you can substitute with an equal amount of plain yogurt if preferred.
- Room temperature egg helps the ingredients combine more smoothly.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense bread texture.
- Check for doneness starting at 60 minutes by piercing with a toothpick; baking times may vary depending on your oven.
- Optional pecans add a nice texture, but you can omit them if you prefer a nut-free version.
Keywords: banana bread, easy banana bread, quick bread, moist banana bread, pecan banana bread, homemade bread
Find it online: https://chefmilacook.com/easy-banana-bread-recipe/
