A soft, tender banana bread made with ripe bananas and simple pantry ingredients. This loaf is naturally sweet, perfectly moist, and ideal for slow mornings, lunchboxes, or an afternoon coffee. It’s a classic recipe that feels comforting without being overly sweet — just balanced, wholesome flavour in every slice.
⏱️ Time Required
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 55–65 minutes
Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
🛒 Ingredients
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
¼ cup plain Greek yoghurt or sour cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1½ cups plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
🧑🍳 Method
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Preheat oven to 175°C and line a loaf tin with baking paper.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth.
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Add the mashed bananas, eggs, yoghurt and vanilla. Mix until combined.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
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Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
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Pour batter into the prepared loaf tin and smooth the top.
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Bake for 55–65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
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Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
🧊 Storage
Room Temperature: Up to 2 days in an airtight container
Fridge: Up to 5 days
Freezer: Up to 3 months (slice before freezing for convenience)
✨ Tips & Variations
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For extra sweetness and texture, I love adding white chocolate chips and sultanas to the batter.
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Sprinkle the top with chopped walnuts before baking for added crunch.
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If your bananas aren’t very ripe, roast them in the oven (skin on) for 10–15 minutes to intensify sweetness.
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For a lighter loaf, substitute half the butter with applesauce.
📊 Nutritional Information
(Approximate, per slice — based on 10 slices)
Energy: ~260 kcal
Protein: ~4 g
Fat: ~11 g
Carbohydrates: ~37 g
Sugars: ~20 g
Fibre: ~2 g
Sodium: ~180 mg
🍌 Nutrition Tips
Banana bread is naturally sweetened by ripe bananas, reducing the need for excessive added sugar. Choosing Greek yoghurt adds moisture while contributing protein and gut-friendly benefits. Enjoy as part of a balanced day — pairing a slice with protein (such as yoghurt or nut butter) helps support steadier energy levels.
🌾 Ingredient Notes
Bananas: The riper the banana, the sweeter and more flavourful your loaf will be. Look for deep yellow skins with brown spots (I use fully brown bananas!)
Greek Yoghurt: Adds moisture and tenderness while helping create a soft crumb.
Brown Sugar: Provides warmth and depth of flavour compared to white sugar.
Butter: Creates richness and that classic banana bread texture.
