This is the banana bread you throw together Sunday mornings when you have neither the alertness to remember overly specific measurements like “1¾ cup + 2 tablespoons flour” (seriously?), nor special, non-pantry-staple ingredients like sour cream or buttermilk. Shall we?
Incidentally, if you do have buttermilk, chocolate chips, and slightly more patience, try the Last Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe Youll Ever Need.[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Of all the banana bread recipes Ive tested, tried, tweaked, tried again, and finally posted, THIS banana bread recipe is the best of the best because its the simplest.
What we need whilst in quarantine during a global pandemic, is a banana bread that we can throw together in a bowl when we have neither the mental energy to follow overly specific measurements like “1¾ cup + 2 tablespoons flour” (seriously?), nor special, non-pantry-staple ingredients like sour cream, Greek yogurt, buttermilk, not even regular old milk because what single, childless woman keeps fresh milk in the fridge?
This is THE banana bread recipe for the times, with suggestions for ingredient substitutions and additions.
Ingredient Resources and Notes
Bananas. Use bananas that are so ripe, they are teetering on the edge of fermenting within the deep dark recesses of their blackened peels into wine.
Sugar. If you dont have brown sugar, use white granulated sugar.
Oil. Use ANY oil for this bread, with the understanding that the bread will smell and taste like that oil, so something neutral is best. Avocado oil is my go-to neutral oil. Canola and grapeseed oils are more common, standard neutral oils. Olive oil has a distinctive scent, so use olive oil if you like that. This is the every day olive oil brand I use.
Flour. Banana bread recipes are generally pretty forgiving so you can use any flour you have, including gluten-free flour mixes, other grain flours like oat flour, bean and nut flours, with the understanding that the texture of the bread can (and will) be very different. If you have some regular wheat flour and are just trying to conserve it, use some of it with the alternative flours to “help” them. The only thing Id stay away from is any kind of pre-made mix like pancake mix, which has other ingredients like sugar, leavers, and oils, which will be hard to account for in the rest of the Banana Bread recipe.
Baking Powder/Baking Soda. This is a substitution that you have to think about because the two ingredients are not completely interchangeable without changes to other ingredients in the Banana Bread recipe. If you have baking soda, proceed as directed. If you only have baking powder, use 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
Honey or Maple Syrup. You can substitute out the sugar with honey or maple syrup. Honey is sweeter than regular sugar, so decrease the amount by about ¼ cup (4 tablespoons), and increase the amount of flour by the same amount to account for the liquid. Maple syrup is about as sweet as sugar, so substitute one-for-one with sugar here. Because it is also a liquid, just add about 2 tablespoons of extra flour to balance the added liquid. The texture of the banana bread will be slightly different with either of these substitutions and of course, will have a fragrance of either honey or maple syrup, which is definitely a very good thing.
Other Oils or Butter. You can use melted coconut oil. Softened/melted butter is a fantastic choice if you have it, but in my kitchen, butter is limited and I prefer to save it for recipes that require the very specific chemical properties of butter, e.g. chocolate chip cookies.
Whole Wheat Flour – Substitute in whole wheat flour for up to 100% of the all-purpose flour to add fiber to the nutritional profile and slightly more texture to the final product. I have made this Banana Bread with whole wheat flour and it comes out perfectly!
Almond Flour and Other Alt- Flours – Substitute up to half (50%) of the all-purpose flour in this recipe with alternative flours like almond flour, cassava flour, or coconut flour. If youd like a completely wheat-free version, see the next point about making the recipe 100% gluten-free…
Other Spices. If you like the flavor of ginger and/or nutmeg and already have them, add up to 1 teaspoon of ground ginger and/or ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg with the dry (flour) ingredients. Just know that adding ginger and nutmeg start to take the banana bread toward holiday pumpkin spice bread territory.
Perfectly moist BANANA BREAD
FAQ
Can you substitute milk when making bread?
Can I use banana instead of milk?
Does banana bread contain milk?
What is a good substitute for bananas in bread?
What can I substitute for banana bread?
The first ingredient that you need to substitute here is butter. One thing you should know here is that baking fat is what keeps the banana bread moist and soft. A classic recipe calls for a 1/3 cup of melted butter (salted or unsalted), but you can substitute it with 1/3 cup of coconut oil, which is both dairy free and better for your health.
What are the healthier substitutes of milk?
Many people do not drink milk from mammals because of a food sensitivity to the protein in dairy milk or an intolerance to lactose. Even though they are not technically milks, there are several plant based alternatives to dairy milk available. Soymilk is an example of a non-dairy substitute that come closest to diary milk in nutrient profile. It contains similar amounts of calcium, protein, as well as vitamins A, B12, and D if the soymilk is fortified. Be sure to read nutrition facts labels. For individuals who count calories, almond milk is lower in calories per serving than dairy milk. Also, almond milk contains similar amounts of vitamin A while providing more calcium per serving compared to diary milk. For individuals concerned about environmental health, almond milk production uses less water to produce than cow’s milk dairy, while soy milk and oat milk use even less water than almond milk. Of the three milks mentioned, oat milk is the most environmentally friendly to produce, and because it is creamy, it works well in hot foods like coffee and tea. It also provides vitamin A, D, B12, and more calcium than diary milk if fortified. There is no reason not to include several alternative milks in one’s diet.
Can you use banana bread instead of sweetened bread?
You can also use banana bread as an alternative to sweetened bread in French toast. In fact, you can also use leftover banana bread in trifles, protein balls, and even pudding the same way you add sweetened bread.
Do you need milk for banana bread?
The typical recipe of banana bread may contain milk or sour cream in order to achieve the smooth and moist texture of this baked goodness. However, there are plenty of banana bread recipes that don’t contain milk in their ingredients.