One Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts is the best banana bread recipe ~ made with just one banana! You’re welcome.
Only got one banana? Make this fabulous one banana banana bread!
This bread makes great use of that one lone banana that got left a little too long on the counter. It’s got a wonderfully moist texture and even though it only uses one banana it still has that classic-banana bread aroma and taste.
It’s perfect for those of you who appreciate banana flavor but don’t want to be hit over the head with it.
The scent of banana bread baking in the oven has to be one of the most comforting smells in the world. I love the idea of making the batter for this bread the night before, and baking it up fresh the next day. Just be sure to add the mashed banana just before baking, so it doesn’t brown. You can basically roll out of bed and enjoy thick slices of fresh-out-of-the-oven banana bread ~ score!
check to see that you have everything:
- banana ~ just one!
- butter
- egg
- milk
- flour
- sugar
- vanilla
- baking soda
- salt
- chocolate chips ~ optional
- walnuts ~ also optional
Tips for the perfect banana bread
- Ripe bananas yield the best flavor, although you can use bananas at any stage.
- Don’t over mix your batter. Blend it just until everything is combined.
- Use a heavy duty aluminum loaf pan. I don’t like glass or dark coated pans, which tend to cook too quickly or unevenly.
- Line your loaf pan with a long sheet of parchment paper so you can lift the cooked bread out for cooling and neater slicing.
- Invest in an inexpensive oven thermometer so you can be sure of your oven temperature. A few degrees either way can make a big difference in the success of your banana bread.
- A little bit of good vanilla extract really brings out the banana flavor.
- Did you know that you can make this batter the night before, and bake it fresh in the morning? Just leave out the banana and add it in the morning to prevent browning.
- Banana bread freezes well, just cool it completely before wrapping. I like to double wrap my bread, first in plastic or foil, and then in a sturdy zip lock freezer bag.
Featured comments on one banana bread
“I absolutely loved this recipe! It is a great mixture of banana and chocolate. I tried making it with half brown sugar and half white sugar instead of all white and I think this will be our family’s to go chocolate chip banana recipe.” ~Nazanin
“Thank you very much for this recipe for my lone banana. I think this is the way I’m going to make it from now on. I made this recipe last night and everyone loved it.” ~Hilary
craving more banana?
One Banana Banana Bread
Video
Equipment
- 9×5 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 large egg
- milk Note: you'll add the milk to the egg to equal one cup.)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, optional
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
- Add the softened butter and banana to the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, and mix until blended and smooth. (Or, if you don’t have a stand mixer, mash the banana by hand with a fork, and add in the softened butter along with the rest of the ingredients)
- Add the egg to a liquid measuring cup and then add milk to make one cup.
- Add the egg and milk, vanilla, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt, and mix until no lumps remain.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan, and bake for about 40-45 minutes, until risen and golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out without batter clinging to it. (Moist crumbs are fine.)
Notes
- The add-in’s are optional, so feel free to choose your own mix! Pecans would be great in place of the walnuts, and peanut butter chips can be used for that classic banana-and-peanut butter vibe. Try 1/2 cup of sweetened shredded coconut, too.
- Use tangy buttermilk or yogurt in place of the milk.
- Got 2 bananas? Try chopping an additional banana and folding it in with the chips and nuts.
- Bake the batter in a muffin tray for delicious banana bread muffins. Reduce the cooking time and keep an eye on them in the oven.
Nutrition
Literally the best banana bread ever. I couldn’t stop eating it!!!
Thanks for this recipe. I only cook for one days days and always seemed to have that banana in my fruit ball that needs to be used up. I am happy to know that I can turned it into banana bread which is my favorite.
This was great! It was simple and very yummy. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve made this twice in the past week now, and it turned out very well both times. (I hand-mixed the first time; I used a stand mixer the second time–there was no difference as far as I could tell.) I used both walnuts and dark chocolate chips. I only changed two things. First, I used soy milk rather than regular milk as that’s what I had on hand. Second, I changed the baking time (from 45 minutes to about 65) because I was using a ceramic loaf pan instead of a metal one. As I said, it turned out really well both times. I got a nice, light loaf with a delightfully crisp exterior, and it’s indeed a great way to make use of that last banana lying around.
Delicious! Perfect for that sad looking banana left in the fruit bowl 🙂
Thank you very much for this recipe for my lone banana. I think this is the way I’m going to make it from now on. I made this recipe last night and everyone loved it.
Thanks Hilary! It’s amazing what you can do with a single banana, isn’t it??
Tried this today, it came out really good. I added half the sugar and half the butter and it was perfect for my family. Will definitely make it again.
Thanks Varsha, I’m sure others will be interested to know that it works out with less butter and sugar.
laat week I had a single ripe banana in my counter, waiting to go to the trash bin – but then I googled one banana bread and found your recipe! so easy, I made mine with walnuts but no chocolate chip, added some cinamon – turned iut great! Hubby loved it so much that I’m making it again (this time no walnuts but added chocolate chips by his request lol) thank you!
So happy to find this recipe for “one banana”. This loaf is delicious. I have pinned the recipe to my board.
I absolutely loved this recipe! It is a great mixture of banana and chocolate. I tried making it with half brown sugar and half white sugar instead of all white and I think this will be our family’s to go chocolate chip banana recipe.