Get ready to fill your home with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked banana bread! This Cottage Cheese Banana Bread creates a wonderfully moist and flavorful treat that everyone will adore. It’s the perfect solution for those overly ripe bananas on your counter, transforming them into something truly delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Banana Bread
You’ll absolutely love this banana bread recipe because it delivers an incredibly moist texture and a rich, sweet banana flavor. It’s super easy to prepare, perfect for busy parents or beginner bakers. This crowd-pleasing treat is always a hit, making it ideal for breakfasts, snacks, or dessert. Our family, and hundreds of 5-star reviewers, can attest to its consistent deliciousness and simple charm.
Ingredients
To make this amazing banana bread, you’ll need a mix of wet and dry ingredients.
Wet Ingredients:
- 3 very ripe bananas
- ½ cup (8 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Optional Mix-ins:
- 1 cup walnuts, lightly roasted and coarsely chopped
- ½ cup raisins
Notes & Substitutions
The riper your bananas are, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be; look for bananas with plenty of brown spots. For a less refined sweetener, you can substitute the granulated sugar with honey or maple syrup, adjusting to taste. If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend works well. To make this dairy-free, use a plant-based butter substitute. Feel free to get creative with other additions like chocolate chips, cinnamon, or nutmeg for extra spice.
Equipment
You won’t need much to whip up this amazing banana bread. Grab a 9×5-inch loaf pan, two large mixing bowls, a whisk, and a rubber spatula. A fork is perfect for mashing bananas. An electric hand mixer or stand mixer can make creaming butter and sugar easier, but it’s not essential. A good cooling rack ensures your bread cools evenly.
Instructions
Let’s get baking this fantastic Garlic Butter Beef Bites with Potatoes: A 30-Minute Skillet Dinner!
First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9.25 long x 5.25 wide x 2.75 deep bread loaf pan. Lightly roast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly until fragrant; then coarsely chop them and let them cool.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Use a fork to mash the very ripe bananas until they reach a chunky applesauce-like consistency. Add the mashed bananas and the two eggs to the butter mixture, mixing until just blended. Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can lead to tough bread.
As Epicurious explains, overmixing can yield undesirable results such as dense, tough, or deflated baked goods.
Gently fold in the chopped walnuts and raisins if you are using them. Pour the batter evenly into your prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 55-60 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a wooden toothpick into the center of the loaf. It should come out clean.
Once baked, let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes. This allows the bread to set before you move it. Carefully transfer the loaf from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. Enjoy your delicious homemade banana bread!
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Always use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and moisture in your bread; they should have plenty of brown spots. When measuring flour, spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife to avoid a dense, dry loaf. For perfectly mashed bananas, use a fork to achieve a consistency similar to chunky applesauce, leaving some small chunks for texture. To prevent sticking, always grease and flour your pan thoroughly. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean to indicate doneness, preventing a raw center. If your bread sinks, check your leavening agents’ freshness or avoid overmixing.
Serving, Storage, and Variations
This delicious banana bread is fantastic served warm, plain, or with a smear of butter. It’s also excellent toasted. At room temperature, store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to a week. To freeze, wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil; it will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature. For variations, add chocolate chips, a streusel topping, or fresh blueberries. You can also easily turn this into delicious Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donuts by reducing baking time to 20-25 minutes.
Nutrition Information
This Delicious and Moist Banana Bread Recipe provides a comforting treat to be enjoyed. Each serving (based on 12 slices per loaf) offers a balance of energy and nutrients. While homemade, it’s still a delicious indulgence.
| Nutrition Name | Nutrition Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 350 | kcal |
| Carbs | 45 | g |
| Protein | 5 | g |
| Fat | 18 | g |
| Saturated Fat | 7 | g |
| Cholesterol | 57 | mg |
| Sodium | 243 | mg |
| Potassium | 270 | mg |
| Fiber | 3 | g |
| Sugar | 20 | g |
| Vitamin A | 354 | IU |
| Vitamin C | 4 | mg |
| Calcium | 26 | mg |
| Iron | 2 | mg |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this banana bread without nuts or raisins? Yes, absolutely! Simply omit them for a classic, smooth loaf.
How can I ripen bananas quickly? Place them in a paper bag with an apple or bake them in their peels at 300°F (150°C) for 15-30 minutes until soft and dark.
Can I use frozen bananas for this recipe? Yes, thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before mashing.
What makes banana bread moist? The key is using super ripe bananas, the right fat (butter), and not overmixing the batter.
How to know when banana bread is done? A toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf should come out clean.
Conclusion
This ultimate banana bread recipe is truly a winner, offering a perfect balance of moisture, sweetness, and ease of preparation. It’s a wonderful way to use up ripe bananas and create a treat your whole family will love. Give it a try soon and enjoy the simple pleasure of homemade goodness!
Delicious and Moist Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9.25 x 5.25 x 2.75 inch bread loaf pan by greasing and flouring it. Lightly roast walnuts in a skillet, stirring constantly to prevent burning, then coarsely chop and allow them to cool to room temperature.
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Mash the ripe bananas with a fork until they resemble chunky applesauce, then add them to the batter along with the eggs, mixing until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt, then gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated.
- Stir in the vanilla extract, chopped walnuts, and raisins. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
