Grandma’s Secret Banana Bread Recipe

This banana bread recipe has been in my family for 4 generations, and I’ve got the permission to share the recipe with you! The final result is a moist and airy bread with a crunch of a walnut here and there. Warm up a slice and slap some butter on it, you’ve got the perfect comfort dessert or maybe a snack!

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Why I LOVE This Recipe:

1. Easy – This recipe is incredibly easy to make, which makes it that much more rewarding! The longest aspect of this recipe is the cook time, which means you can spend less time preparing it and more time watching it cook!
2. Comforting – There’s something so great about banana bread. It’s so simple to make, it’s absolutely delicious, and incredibly comforting. It’s the perfect comfort dessert for any occasion. Whether it be family gatherings, birthdays, or if you simply want some banana bread!!
3. Versatility – Walnuts always go into the banana bread when it’s made in my household. But it doesn’t need to be that way for you! Banana bread is just as good without walnuts as it is with them! Walnuts is definitely an optional ingredient for this recipe.

Important Notes:

1. Don’t underbake/overbake – I’m sure this goes without saying, but I think that it is super important to note. Reason being that it is super easy to do. It’s super important to keep an eye on your banana bread towards the end of the baking time. You should be able to stick a toothpick into the center of the loaf and have it come out clean. That is when you know that your banana bread is done.
2. Banana’s Ripeness – This is an important part of the whole recipe. The bananas should be overripe, brown, and somewhat “mushy”. We’re not looking for molding or completely disgusting bananas, we’re just looking for them to be overripe.

How to Make Banana Bread:

• Preheat the oven to 350°– Grease a loaf pan with butter and dust with flour. Tap to release excess flour.
• Prepare Batter – In a large bowl or mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar, and egg until combined and smooth. Add milk and mashed bananas, mix until combined smooth. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined. Add walnuts.
• Bake – Bake in an oven set at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Serve – Let cool for ~10 minutes, release from the loaf pan, cut into slices and enjoy!
• Recommendation – I recommend serving warm with butter.

Essentials for This Recipe:

• Loaf Pan
• Large Whisk
• Rubber Spatulas
• Hand Mixer

I hope you all enjoy this recipe that’s been in my family for decades as much as I do!

As always, happy baking!

-Rian

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup walnuts, optional

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°, grease a loaf pan with butter and dust with flour.
2. In a large bowl or mixing bowl, cream together butter, egg, and sugar.
3. Add milk and mashed bananas, mix until well combined and smooth.
4. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until combined and homogenous.
5. Optionally add walnuts and mix.
6. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let cool for ~10 minutes.
8. Remove from the loaf pan and serve warm with butter.
9. Enjoy! 🙂