One Banana Banana Bread ~ deliciously easy recipe! (2024)

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One Banana Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts ~ when there’s just one banana left on the counter, this one-banana, one-bowl quick bread recipe steps up to the plate.

One Banana Banana Bread ~ deliciously easy recipe! (1)

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.

One Banana Banana Bread ~ deliciously easy recipe! (2)

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
One Banana Banana Bread ~ deliciously easy recipe! (3)

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.

Reader Raves ~

“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

still craving banana?

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  • Better than Starbucks Banana Walnut Bread
  • Bourbon Banana Butter
  • My Favorite Banana Blondies

One Banana Banana Bread ~ deliciously easy recipe! (4)

One Banana Banana Bread

3.73 from 501 votes

One Banana Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts ~ when there’s just one banana left on the counter, this one-banana, one-bowl quick bread recipe steps up to the plate.

Prep Time:10 minutes minutes

Cook Time:40 minutes minutes

Total Time:50 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Ingredients

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

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.

*Recipe adapted from A Farmish Kind of Life.

NEW FEATURE! Click here to add your own private notes.

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: baking, banana bread, breakfast, chocolate chip, dessert, pantry, quick bread, walnuts

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.

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at @theviewfromgreatisland for a chance to be featured.

One Banana Banana Bread ~ deliciously easy recipe! (5)

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Fruit

One Banana Banana Bread ~ deliciously easy recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why use mushy bananas 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.

Why is my banana bread not fluffy? ›

Make sure you add some sort of leavening agent (such as baking powder) and a couple of eggs. Banana bread is denser than regular bread by definition, but it should still have some fluff to it. If you have too much liquid, this can make your bread dense and mushy.

Can you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

Fight the urge to use more banana than called for in your recipe. Using too much banana could make your bread heavy and damp in the center, causing it to appear undercooked and unappealing. If you have bananas leftover, you can always freeze them for later use.

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

As long as your bananas are not rotten or infested with fruit flies, they should be perfect for a delicious loaf of banana bread. So, don't hesitate to use those ripe or overripe bananas sitting on your counter – they could be the key ingredient for a tasty treat everyone will enjoy!

Why are old bananas better for banana bread? ›

For the taste of sweet, tropical bananas to come through in the final bread, he needed to concentrate their flavor, which is what happens when bananas naturally ripen over time and turn soft and brown.

What happens if you add an extra egg to banana bread? ›

Adding more eggs makes for a spongy, less flavorful banana bread. Doubling the number of eggs I was using resulted in a spongy cake with a moist texture. While the banana flavor was present, it wasn't as prominent as it was in other loaves. This had more of a hint of flavor.

How can I make my bread fluffier instead of dense? ›

Potato Flakes or Potato Water

Starch helps the dough by trapping the gas from the yeast in the dough and makes the bubbles stronger. This helps the bread to rise and be lighter and fluffier. If you are boiling potatoes, you can use the unsalted water in place of the water in your bread recipe to help out the yeast.

How to make bread more moist? ›

Bread Making Tips For Softer Bread
  1. Do Not Over-Knead Your Dough. ...
  2. Ensure Dough is Well Hydrated. ...
  3. Lubricate With Oil. ...
  4. Add Sugar. ...
  5. Add Eggs. ...
  6. Reduce Baking Time. ...
  7. Create Steam in Oven. ...
  8. Add Milk.
Mar 27, 2023

What if the middle of banana bread is not cooked? ›

If your oven has not reached the correct baking temperature before the banana bread is placed in the oven, the banana bread will be undercooked and more likely to sink. I like to use a hanging oven thermometer placed inside my oven to see if the oven has reached the correct temperature.

Can I eat banana bread every day? ›

Desserts may not be a part of your everyday diet. Instead, they are meant to be enjoyed as an occasional treat. If you eat sweet desserts, such as banana bread, too frequently, you may experience health issues — especially if the rest of your diet relies on ultra-processed, nutrient-poor foods.

What was the old banana called? ›

The Gros Michel banana was the banana of choice until the 1950s. They were slightly bigger than the Cavendish, with a stronger flavour. This was until a fungal disease called Panama disease struck, which almost wiped out the species.

What is the black in the middle of a banana? ›

That little black nub, on the other hand, well that's always there. That's because it's not a seed, but the flower from which your giant banana berry grew.

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.

Are mushy bananas still good? ›

That said, Rogers states that if your bananas are jet black and mushy, your safest bet is to cook with them rather than eating them out of hand or using them raw in things like smoothies or nice cream. "The riper the bananas get, the more levels of bacteria could be on them," he says.

What can overripe bananas be used for? ›

Don't throw those overripe bananas away! Try one of these delicious recipes for coffee cake, cookies, ice cream, donuts, smoothies—and, yes, banana bread. Rebecca is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.

Are bananas good if they are soft? ›

Overripe bananas may not be as pretty as perfectly yellow bananas, but they are still perfectly safe to eat. However, they may have soft spots due to bruises and be more susceptible to bacteria and fungi. So, it's best to consume them before they become too soft and mushy.

What is the meaning of mushy banana? ›

You might use the adjective mushy to describe an overripe banana or a tear-jerker of a commercial.

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