Did you know that banana bread is one the most searched for recipes according to Taste? I always find banana bread can be really good or it can be really bad and there is not much in between. It is the first thing I look for in a cafe when it comes to what should I have with my coffee. The first documented recipe for banana bread was found back in 1933 during the depression years. Most likely it came from a necessity to use over ripe bananas in the era when nothing was left go to waste
I have had my fair share of fails for banana bread. It’s either too much banana in proportion to the other ingredients or it takes an age and half to cook and I get anxious thinking it must be ready and take it out far too soon. I have also eaten my fair share of bad banana bread. And to be honest life is too short to eat bad banana bread or drink a bad coffee.
Therefore I am delighted to present to you my no fail, hands down, without doubt, the best banana bread recipe ever. You can throw all your other ones away and just use this one from now on. I know it’s a big call but I am confident.
Banana bread making is a fairly serious business so here are some further tips and tricks.
Banana bread making FAQ
Q: I have no ripe bananas!
I have found the solution… and it’s so simple and so fabulous. You take your bananas – leave them in their skins – pop them in them oven on the lowest setting and they turn brown! Depending on how brown you want them and how ripe they already are it will take between 15 minutes to 45 minutes tops.
Q: What do you put on top of your banana bread?
Mostly I leave it plain but here are my favourite top 5 options
Walnuts – add them on the top before you bake
Chocolate icing – mix together the following
- 1 cup sifted icing sugar
- 2 tablespoon sifted cocoa
- 2 teaspoon soft butter
- 1 tablespoon boiling water
Passionfruit icing – mix together the following
- 1 cup sifted icing sugar
- 3 tablespoon passionfruit
- 2 teaspoon soft butter
Lemon cream cheese – beat together the following
- 1 cup sifted icing sugar
- 250 grams cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Zest from 1 lemon
Greek yoghurt and drizzle of honey– slather over the top or on individual slices
Q: How do you stop your banana bread from being gooey in the middle and burnt?
I place a piece of alfoil over the top once it has browned sufficiently- usually at about the 30 minute mark.
So there you have it Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever!

Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever - Thermomix method
Perfect fresh with icing or toasted without.
Ingredients
- 350 grams ripe bananas broken up
- 150 grams caster sugar
- 130 grams butter room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 230 grams self-raising flour
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
- 100 grams natural yoghurt
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 180 C.
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Prepare loaf tin (25 x 10 x 11cm).
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Place bananas and vanilla extract in the bowl and mix for 5 seconds on speed 6.
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Add butter and caster sugar and mix for 20 seconds on speed 5.
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Add the eggs one at a time and combine each for a few seconds on
speed 5.
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Add the flour, bicarbonate soda and yoghurt and mix for 15 seconds on speed 4.
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Pour into prepared tin and bake in the oven for 1 hour.
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Wait until cool before removing from tin.
Recipe Notes
- Serve warm with lashings of butter or cool and add icing.
- Perfect to freeze.

Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever - Conventional Method
Perfect fresh with icing or toasted without.
Ingredients
- 350 grams ripe bananas mashed
- 150 grams caster sugar
- 130 grams butter room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 230 grams self-raising flour sifted
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
- 100 grams natural yoghurt
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 180 C.
-
Prepare loaf tin (25 x 10 x 11cm).
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Beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy with an electric mixer.
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Add the eggs one at a time and combine each well.
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Add in sifted flour bicarbonate soda, yoghurt and banana until well combined.
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Pour into prepared tin and bake in the oven for 1 hour.
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Wait until cool before removing from tin.
Recipe Notes
- Serve warm with lashings of butter or cool and add icing.
- Perfect to freeze.
I would love to hear how you go making it.