This Best Banana Bread Recipe is a moist and classic recipe, which is made with sour cream and walnuts. It’s a classic, foolproof recipe, ready in about 1 hour and 35 minutes.
The Best Banana Bread Ingredients
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
How To Make The Best Banana Bread
- Prep Oven and Cream Butter: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the room-temperature butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Combine and Bake: With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add the mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla, and mix again. Gently stir in the nuts.
- Bake and Cool: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread rest in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Tips
- How ripe should bananas be? The riper, the better! Bananas with lots of brown and black spots are sweeter and have a more intense banana flavor, which is perfect for banana bread.
- How to get a super moist loaf? The sour cream is the secret ingredient here. It adds a wonderful richness and ensures the banana bread stays incredibly moist.
- Can I make this without a mixer? Yes. Ensure your butter is very soft, then use a whisk to cream it with the sugar. It won’t be as light and fluffy, but the bread will still be delicious.
- Why cool completely before slicing? This is a crucial step! If the bread is still warm when you slice it, it can be gummy and may tear. Letting it cool completely allows the crumb to set properly.
What To Serve With Banana Bread
This classic loaf is delicious on its own, but it’s even better with:
- A simple spread of salted butter
- A generous layer of cream cheese frosting
- A drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar
- A cup of hot coffee or a tall glass of cold milk
How To Store Banana Bread
- Room Temperature: Once the loaf has cooled completely, wrap it in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It will keep at room temperature for up to four days.
- Freeze: This banana bread freezes beautifully. You can freeze the whole loaf or individual slices. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in foil, and it will keep in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw at room temperature.
Banana Bread Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 350-400 kcal
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 5g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Absolutely! About ½ to ¾ cup of semisweet or milk chocolate chips would be a delicious addition. Fold them in at the same time as the nuts.
This can happen if the bread is underbaked or if there was too much leavening agent. Make sure to test for doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean from the center.
Yes, walnuts and pecans are classic choices, but toasted, chopped hazelnuts or almonds would also be wonderful. For a nut-free version, simply omit them.
Try More Recipes:
- I Tried Martha Stewart’s Banana Muffins, and They Made Me Feel a Little Less Like a Mess
- I Tried Martha Stewart’s Banana Nut Bread, and It Made the Kitchen Feel Like It Loved Me Back
- I Tried Martha Stewart’s Banana Pudding — And It Tasted Like My Mother Never Left
The Best Banana Bread Recipe
Description
A classic, incredibly moist banana bread made with sour cream for a tender crumb and packed with toasted nuts.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Mix in the mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla. Fold in the nuts.
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Using very ripe, almost black bananas will give you the sweetest and most flavorful result.
- Sour cream is the key to an ultra-moist loaf; don’t skip it!
- Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added, as this can lead to a tough bread.
- Ensure the bread is completely cool before slicing for the cleanest cuts.