“This is the BEST recipe by far for banana bread — and geez I’ve tried so many! Typically, I find that I’m down to one banana and end up throwing it out. Well, no more! I’ve literally made this recipe every weekend for the past four (4) months! I wouldn’t change a thing. Thanks so much!” ~ Kathy
Only got one banana? Make this fabulous one banana banana bread!
My one banana banana bread is simply the best banana bread recipe ~ made with just one banana! You’re welcome. It’s got a wonderfully moist texture and that classic banana bread aroma and taste.
one banana banana bread lives up to the hype
Seriously, this isn’t just an “okay” recipe for when you’re stuck with just one banana – many of you have told me that your friends and family love it so much that it’s the only way you’ll be making banana bread from now on! Here’s what just a few of you say:
- Delicious, easy & only 1 banana!!
- This recipe is a keeper 😋
- I am absolutely obsessed with this recipe. I’ve been making it for YEARS.
- Mmmm. I substituted heavy cream for the milk……decadent, naughty 🙂
- This was a mahoosive hit! I made 2 small loaves and both finished the same day!!
- My 15 yr old son made this by himself last night (his very first time baking anything!!) and it came out PERFECTLY.
- So great to have an option with one banana! A keeper!
the essentials of perfect banana bread
- Ripe bananas yield the best flavor, but don’t over think it, you can use bananas at any stage.
- A little bit of good vanilla extract really brings out the banana flavor.
- 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.
- 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.
can this recipe make muffins?
The answer is a resounding yes! I tested this recipe (with no changes) and it made 12 delicious muffins. Here’s how to do it:
- Preheat oven to 375F and line a standard 12 cup muffin tin with muffin tin liners.
- Make the banana bread batter as written, no changes needed.
- Divide the batter evenly between your muffin tins. They will be filled almost to the top.
- Bake for about 25 minutes until risen and starting to turn golden brown on top.
- As always, your oven and specific muffin tin will affect the exact baking time, so check on them early and adjust as needed.
One Banana Banana Bread
Only got one banana? Make this fabulous one banana banana bread ~ it's a fan favorite!
Servings: 10 servings
Video
Equipment
- 9×5 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- milk Note: you'll add the milk to the egg to equal one cup.)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 ripe banana, mashed with a fork
- 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (I used bittersweet), optional
- 2/3 cup roughly chopped walnuts, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a 9×5 loaf pan, and line it with a piece of parchment paper for easier removal.
- In a small saucepan, melt the 1/2 cup unsalted butter. Remove from the heat and set aside to partially cool.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp nutmeg. Whisk well to combine, and set aside.
- In a larger mixing bowl, add the 1 cup sugar. Add the 1 large egg to a liquid measuring cup and then add milk to make one cup. Add this to the mixing bowl with the sugar. Whisk well.
- Add the 1 ripe banana, mashed with a fork and whisk until everything is well combined.
- Drizzle in the melted butter and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Finally, fold in the flour mixture, stopping when there are still a few streaks of dry flour left.
- Fold in the 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (I used bittersweet) and 2/3 cup roughly chopped walnuts until evenly distributed, and there are no dry streaks of flour left. Don't over-mix the batter.
- Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan, and bake for about 45-60 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.)
- Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing the bread using your parchment paper 'sling.'
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.
- changed “a pinch” of salt to 1/4 tsp – the perfect amount without being overly salty
- added 1/4 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cinnamon for a little extra cozy banana bread flavor without overwhelming anything.
- upped the chocolate chips and walnuts from 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup – because why not??
- adjusted the recipe to use melted butter instead of creaming together the butter and sugar.
- this makes the recipe a bit easier to whip up and allows you to make it with mixing bowls and a whisk, instead of needing a stand mixer.
- I found no negative impact on the texture – this bread has got a delicious moist crumb!
- updated the baking time range to account for oven and pan differences.
Nutrition
Calories: 340 kcal · Carbohydrates: 44 g · Protein: 5 g · Fat: 17 g · Saturated Fat: 9 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 42 mg · Sodium: 216 mg · Potassium: 171 mg · Fiber: 2 g · Sugar: 25 g · Vitamin A: 337 IU · Vitamin C: 1 mg · Calcium: 56 mg · Iron: 1 mg
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
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What size pan do you use? I’ve looked through a couple of times and don’t see it noted. One over-ripe banana is ready to go!
I use a standard 9×5 loaf pan.
Terrific recipe! I don’t mean to be one of those people who can’t just make the recipe “as is,” but I changed up the add-ins because I didn’t have chocolate chips or walnuts. I had some butterscotch chips and pecans. I learned something. The butterscotch chips were not discernible as an ingredient you would guess, but they added a caramel-y depth to the banana and made for an extraordinary banana bread. I had to bake mine for much longer, too, and that’s just the way it is when bananas vary in size. Fabulous way to use one overripe banana. Thank you for a favorite recipe from here on out.
The bread turned out great, but I had to bake it for about 20 minutes longer than the recipe called for. The batter was still raw and cool at the 40 minute mark.
My oven is on the newer side and I’ve not had this problem with other recipes, so I don’t think it’s my oven.
With dense quick breads like this, particularly banana bread, your cooking time can vary quite a bit ~ possibly due to the size of your banana, or the dimensions of your loaf pan. Glad it turned out well for you!
This was an alright recipe for banana bread, I wish I wouldv’e added some cinnamon or nutmeg to bring down the cakey flavor. I also had to bake mine for an extra 20min as it was still raw on the inside at the 40min mark.
Sorry this wasn’t a hit for you Lexi. It sounds like something was off because of your long cooking time.
I’ve made this many times, following the recipe exactly, and it always comes out great.
Always, my go to banana bread.
This was a mahoosive hit! I made 2 small loaves and both finished the same day!! Everyone raved about it.
Can’t wait for that lone manky leftover banana to make it again 🙂
I baked the muffin version for 28 minutes and they came out perfect. Very fluffy. I was worried they would be too sweet but actually some chocolate or other add ins would have been nice.
Can we freeze the batter? Love love love this with added chocolate chunks and peanut butter chips
I’ve never done that, but you can definitely freeze the bread.
I make banana bread pretty often and this is my favorite!! Absolutely delicious, it’s so moist and banana-y, even with just one banana!
Hi Sue, what is a stick of butter equal to?
1/2 cup, 4 ounces, or 113 grams.