You’ll Go Bananas for These 12 Banana Bread Recipes (2024)

February 23rd is National Banana Bread Day! Who doesn’t love banana bread? No one we know. Banana bread is bread but it’s also a dessert. You can have it as a treat but you can also have it for breakfast. See? Banana bread is a perfect food!

History tells us that banana bread was invented in the Caribbean. Bananas didn’t even appear in the U.S. until the late 1870s. Banana bread is a great use for overripe bananas. There are many variations of banana bread – the quick bread can be made with cream cheese frosting, marbled with rich chocolate, or made even more decadent with peanut butter. Some people like to put fruit and/or nuts in their banana bread while others are more purist.

However you like your banana bread, we have lots of recipes for you. Check out last years’ recipes in 15 Legendary Vegan Recipes for National Banana Bread Day. Then let’s look at new ways to enjoy the flavor of banana bread even if it’s not actually a bread. Here are 12 banana bread recipes you’ll definitely go bananas for.

1. Healthy Banana Bread

Banana bread can be both healthy and delicious. This Healthy Banana Bread is naturally sweetened with date sugar. Applesauce makes it moist without added oil. Add some chopped walnuts for crunch and you have the perfect banana bread.

2. Yogurt Banana Bread

The secret ingredient in this Yogurt Banana Bread isn’t really a secret since it’s in the title. Non-dairy yogurt gives this bread a moist and fluffy texture. A slice of this bread with a cup of your favorite tea sounds like a delicious way to spend an afternoon.

3. Chocolate Banana Bread

While banana bread is delicious, you probably don’t think of it as being decadent. Well, that will change when you get a taste of this Chocolate Banana Bread. It has chocolate inside the bread as well as a rich dark chocolate ganache poured down over it. Like we said, this is pure decadence.

4. Superfood Banana Bread

Banana bread is usually healthy … but this Superfood Banana Bread is super-healthy. It’s packed with oats, chia seeds, spirulina, chocolate chips, and other ingredients that are great for you. Then it’s topped with a mix of dried cranberries, pepitas, and sunflower seeds for a banana bread with lots of textures and flavors.

5. Maple Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is Maple Banana Bread with Vegan ‘Cream Cheese’ Frosting – how many delicious words can there be in one title? Moist, yummy banana bread with maple syrup inside and drizzled on top. It has a thick, fluffy cream cheese frosting on top plus pecans for garnish. Vegan, gluten-free and so delicious.

6. Banana Bread Pudding

This Banana Bread Pudding is the creamiest, sweetest, and yummiest way to use up leftover bread. The combination of bananas and peanut butter is classically delicious plus there’s maple syrup and cardamom for something special. Use gluten-free bread to make the dish gluten-free.

7. Double Chocolate Banana Bread

The only thing that can make banana bread better is this Double Chocolate Banana Bread. Rich cocoa powder and luscious dark chocolate elevates the everyday banana bread to a truly decadent treat. Serve with a hot cup of coffee or your favorite tea – and to make this an even more special treat, add a scoop of vegan whipped cream or ice cream!

8. Banana Bread Cookies With Coconut Cream and Chocolate Sauce

Have banana bread and have cookies at the same time! These Banana Bread Cookies with Coconut Cream and Chocolate Sauce let you have the best of both worlds in one delicious treat. These cookies seriously taste like banana bread. Then they’re topped with luscious coconut cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce. These are so amazing, you’ll need to double the recipe just to make sure you get one.

9. Banana Bread French Toast Cupcakes

These Banana Bread French Toast Cupcakes are an award-winning recipe. They’re moist cupcakes that combine cinnamon, maple, and banana plus they have a rich maple frosting on top. Enjoy one of these for breakfast – after all, they have French Toast in the name.

10. Vegan Banana and Blueberry Brunch Bread/Cake

If you need a totally awesome, fail-safe, fool-proof, painfully easy recipe for vegan banana bread, this Vegan Banana and Blueberry Brunch Bread/Cake is the one for you. The combination of bananas and blueberries is incredible. If you’re having brunch, you’ll want to serve this delicious banana bread.

11. Banana Bread Energy Bar

Did you know that banana bread can boost your energy? They can when they’re in energy bars. These raw vegan Banana Bread Energy Bars taste like heaven and give you all the fuel you need to get through the day. Made with dates, almonds, popped buckwheat, and of course, bananas, these are a delicious way to rev up.

12. Banana Bread Smoothie with Pecans, Nutmeg and Carob Syrup

Get ready to drink your banana bread. This Banana Bread Smoothie is made with warm pecan milk and frozen bananas. The warm milk makes the bananas taste baked – like banana bread! This seriously tastes like banana bread batter but in a healthy, satisfying smoothie.

Whether it’s a bread, a cupcake, a cookie or a pudding, the flavors of banana bread make everyone happy. Try these recipes to celebrate National Banana Bread Day.

Lead image source:Banana Bread Cookies With Coconut Cream and Chocolate Sauce

You’ll Go Bananas for These 12 Banana Bread Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to use frozen bananas for banana bread? ›

Frozen bananas are a great way to use overripe bananas in banana bread. If you're like me, you rarely remember to use your overripe bananas on the day they are perfectly ripe so freezing them is a great solution. Thawed bananas are easier to mash and can also add extra moisture to the batter.

Why are older bananas better for banana bread? ›

Ripe bananas are not only softer and easier to mash and blend into a batter, but they are also sweeter, which is why baking recipes specifically call for ripe bananas in ingredient lists. As the bananas ripen, the fruit converts starches to sugars, making them sweeter and more flavorful.

How many bananas are in Chrissy Teigen's banana bread? ›

The tldr; is that she needed 6 very ripe bananas to work on this recipe, but as you know you can not just buy overly ripe bananas at the store, so she went to Twitter and called on her followers.

What is the formula for banana bread? ›

The basic banana bread formula

Most banana bread recipes have the same formula, roughly: 115 grams (½ cup) butter (or oil) + 200 grams (1 cup) sugar (white or brown) + 2 large eggs + 2 or 3 mashed bananas + (190 grams) 1-½ cups flour + 1 teaspoon baking soda + ½ teaspoon salt.

When can you no longer use bananas for banana bread? ›

If black bananas are spotted with mold, then it's time to step away! You absolutely should not use them for banana bread or consume them at all. At that point, it's wise to consign them to the trash can or compost.

Do I need to thaw bananas for banana bread? ›

Not only do frozen bananas work for baking, but they arguably work better for baking than fresh bananas. Not only does the freezing process not affect the taste or the nutritional value of the bananas, but defrosting bananas makes them softer and therefore easier to mix into batter.

Do oven ripened bananas taste the same? ›

The texture of a baked banana may be a bit softer than that of one naturally ripened but the taste and caramelized sweetness will be amazing. Preheat your oven to 300ºF, as a low and slow oven ensures the interior of the banana bakes before the outside gets too dark and mushy.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.

Can you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

Banana bread recipes typically ask you to use overripe bananas so that they're easier to mush. This means it's tempting to toss all your bananas into the mix when you're ready to bake, to avoid food waste. But if you add too much of the fruit into your batter, your bread could turn out mushy, heavy, and wet.

How do you ripen bananas quickly? ›

In order to speed up the ripening process, all you need to do is trap the ethene gas in with the banana by putting them in a paper bag – fruit gives off moisture, so you must use a bag that won't trap moisture. Ripening in a bag usually takes a day or so, but can be as speedy as overnight – just keep checking.

How many bananas is 2 cups? ›

2 bananas: 1-1/3 cups chopped | 1 cup mashed. 3 bananas: 2 cups chopped | 1-1/2 cups mashed. 4 bananas: 2-2/3 cups chopped | 2 cups mashed.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder for banana bread? ›

Baking soda works best in conjunction with an acidic ingredient. In the case of banana bread, this may be buttermilk, brown sugar, molasses or the bananas themselves. Recipes generally include just enough baking soda to balance the acidity in the batter.

Why do you not put baking powder in banana bread? ›

Simply, batter is wet and your baked good is dry, so all of the moisture mixed into the batter will be driven off to rise. Its mind boggling, but rising agents like baking powder and baking soda do NOT make baked goods rise.

Why does my banana bread taste weird? ›

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) is the raising agent and this can sometimes taste bitter or soapy if the wrong quantity is used.

Should frozen bananas be thawed before baking? ›

Freeze Bananas Whole (If Using for Baking)

But to use in baking recipes, you need to thaw the frozen bananas first, because you need to mash them for your recipe.

When should you not use frozen bananas? ›

How to Tell if Frozen Bananas are Bad
  1. Evidence of Freezer Burn.
  2. Ice Crystals.
  3. Not Sealed Properly.
  4. If the Freezer Goes Out.
  5. They Were Not Frozen Properly.
Feb 6, 2024

Are thawed frozen bananas mushy? ›

You can freeze unpeeled bananas, if you want—you'll just need to thaw them and peel them when they're ready. But keep in mind that bananas frozen that way get mushy when they're thawed, so you'll need to use them only for recipes that require mashed bananas.

How much frozen banana equals one banana? ›

I have found that about ¾ – 1 cup of ½ inch slices of banana equal close to 1 large banana. After freezing the slices, do a quick measure to see how many cups 1 banana equals for easier measurement for recipes.

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