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My 4-ingredient banana bread recipe uses pantry staples to yield a light, moist, and fluffy loaf. It’s perfectly sweetened, and you can add all sorts of mix-ins!
Need another easy banana bread recipe? Try my blueberry banana bread, strawberry banana bread, or banana pecan bread next.
As soon as I notice a couple of browning bananas on the counter, my mind instantly goes to banana bread. I mean, doesn’t everyone?
Now, sometimes I have bananas, but not much else. That’s why I came up with the simplest banana bread recipe possible. All you need are 4 pantry staples, and you’ll be rewarded with a soft and chewy loaf of breakfast bread…or ‘dessert bread’…or ‘anytime bread’ if you’re like me!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- No cake mix needed. This recipe is made entirely from scratch thanks to the magic of self-rising flour.
- Yes, it’s really only 4 ingredients. There are no optional ingredients unless you fancy some mix-ins.
- Made in one bowl. So prep and clean-up are over in no time.
- The perfect texture. The bananas add sweetness and a moist, soft crumb.
Ingredients needed
- Mashed bananas. Choose the brownest, most overripe bananas, as those taste the sweetest. Frozen and thawed bananas can also be used–I do this all the time!
- Large eggs. Gives the bread structure and stability.
- Self-rising flour. I love using self-rising flour because it’s easy to make and saves time. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s basically a blend of all purpose flour, baking powder, and salt, and it’s used to cut down on the amount of ingredients in a recipe.
- Brown sugar. The mild caramel flavor of brown sugar makes it work perfectly for banana bread.
What if I don’t have ripe bananas?
If your bananas aren’t ripened, fear not! Simply bake them (unpeeled) at 300F for 15-20 minutes. They’ll be soft, sweet, and easy to mash with a fork.
How to make 4-ingredient banana bread
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the oven and line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Grease with cooking spray.
Step 2- Mix. Mash bananas and combine all other ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Step 3- Bake. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let it cool briefly before serving.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Avoid overmixing. This is the #1 mistake I see in MOST baking recipes. When you overmix, too much gluten develops, and you lose essential air in the recipe. Only mix until you have a smooth batter with no visible lumps.
- Egg-free. Substitute the eggs for one of my egg substitutes (or try my eggless banana bread). I tested flax eggs in this recipe and found they did a pretty good job replicating the taste and texture.
- Gluten-free. Use gluten-free self-rising flour, but make sure it has xanthan gum.
Variations
- Add mix-ins. Like chocolate chips, walnuts, pecans, or even a dollop of peanut butter.
- Spices. Stir in a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice.
- Extracts. One teaspoon of vanilla extract will complement the flavors, or add ½ teaspoon of banana extract for more banana flavor.
Storage instructions
To store: Keep the loaf in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
To freeze: Wrap leftover slices in foil, store them in a freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months.
Frequently asked questions
Overmixing the batter is one of the biggest mistakes when making banana bread. You should mix the batter just enough to fully combine all ingredients. Overmixing the batter results in dense banana bread.
You don’t need either in my recipe. This is thanks to the use of self-rising flour which already contains it!
Yes, too many bananas can make for an overly dense or moist banana bread. Stick to the recipe and avoid adding more than what’s called for.
More ways to use leftover bananas
4 Ingredient Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 large bananas mashed roughly
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups self rising flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease or line a 9 x 4-inch loaf pan and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the bananas and mash well. Add the eggs, followed by the sugar and flour, until combined.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally updated July 2023, updated and republished November 2024
Made this recipe today. If I didn’t know there was gluten free flour you’d never know by the taste. The only thing I did was add a couple drops of lemon extract to prevent bland taste. This recipe is delicious and easy to make. Would highly recommend this to all!!
More air fryer recipes please
Maybe I would make this without sugar as banana is sweet on its own. What do you think?
Love your healthy and easy making recipes please keep them coming.
made it again this time i added blueberries and walnuts
i added an extra banana next one 6 bananas i want stronger banana flavor, turned out great if my 16 yr old daughter liked it. no ripe bananas didn’t want to wait, so i placed on metal tray under hot sun till skin looked ripe was 3 hours total figured nothing can go wrong since they do grow in direct sun on the tree. when i put in oven i forgot that i didn’t add the flour nor brown sugar, daughter laughing at me, just put in bowl again and stirred away. next time daughter is with me we’ll be doing the chocolate banana bread. Thank You for recipe
i am enjoying the results of your recipe with my coffee… not sharing!
staying with brother while i repair his roof and minor electrical things and installation of flush lights on ceiling. i see they throw away a lot of food “spoil” i happen to find 9 super ripe bananas in the trash can outside “No Sir Not On My Watch!!!” i’ve never made banana bread, ex-wife was awesome making it. i searched online How-to and found your recipe. (i had to make my own rising flour) the rest is history.
i will try your other recipes, Thank You Brother
Yummy 😋
The best banana bread recipe. Seriously never buying store bought bread again!
For the recipes that only use 4 ingredients, it’s tge best one yet
Perfect! Thanks
Suave, rica y caliente con café!!!
Can you use air fryer instead
You could try!
It came out fantastic! Friends loved it. I added dried fruits instead of chocolate. Going to do it again! Thanks
Fabulous so great to hear that!