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 familyโs to go chocolate chip banana recipe.โ ~Nazanin
“Thank you very much for this recipe for my lone banana. I think this is the way Iโm going to make it from now on. I made this recipe last night and everyone loved it.โ ~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.ย Try 1/2 cup of sweetened shredded coconut, too.
- Use tangy buttermilk or yogurt in place of the milk.
- Got 2 bananas?ย 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.ย Reduce the cooking time and keep an eye on them in the oven.
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 Iโve not had this problem with other recipes, so I donโt think itโs 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 ๐
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.