Easy 4 Ingredient Banana Bread

This spectacular 4 ingredient banana bread is perfect for those weeks your bananas didn’t get eaten. I’ll admit that it happens more than I’d like to admit. (Hence, we eat a lot of banana bread in our house.)

When you’ve got a few overripe bananas, this recipe is the perfect solution to avoid food waste. Whether you bake this simple banana bread recipe for breakfast or dessert, your tastebuds will thank you!

Psst… When you’re done with this recipe, try making these delicious butter rum muffins.

How To Make 4 Ingredient Banana Bread

With just 4 ingredients, this banana bread recipe is perfect for bakers new and old! This dairy-free recipe boasts high levels of potassium with vitamin C with a starring role in the nutrition department.

Ingredients

4 overripe, large bananas. The bananas you use should have nearly completely brown peels. The banana itself will be soft and easy to break. Curious how bananas get their yellow color? Read all about yellow foods.

Bananas, one of many healthy yellow foods, contain nutrients such as potassium. According to WebMD, the combination of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in bananas can help with muscle cramps. Wake up from pesky leg cramps in the middle of the night? Bananas are your new best friend.

2 cups of self-rising flour. Self-rising flour is vital to this 4 ingredient banana bread recipe, as an all-purpose flour does not have a leavening agent. Self-rising flour already contains baking powder and salt.

¾ cup light brown sugar. The use of light or dark brown sugar is a personal preference. The exact measurement will be adequate for this recipe if you choose dark brown sugar. 

If you’re looking to reduce your intake of processed sugar, try using coconut sugar instead, or a coconut sugar substitute

2 large eggs. The eggs used in this recipe can be swapped out for an egg substitute if you want, but the consistency and sweetness of the bread may be affected based on your choice. ¾ cup of coconut or traditional condensed milk are possible egg substitutions, though the sweetness may cut the need for sugar.

There are so many options when it comes to eggs. From the different grades of eggs to their size, just choosing a carton can feel overwhelming. To help you out, check out our handy guide on everything you need to know about eggs.

And if you find yourself with extra? Here are our favorite recipes to use up extra eggs.

banana bread batter

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8.5-inch pan with parchment paper
  1. Peel overripe bananas and place them in a large mixing bowl. Mash bananas with a fork into a puree.
  1. Add the eggs and whisk together until well combined.
  1. Add the light brown sugar and stir until combined.
  1. Add the flour to the mixture and mix until just combined. Avoid over mixing.
  1. Pour batter into a loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the middle. Bread is complete when the toothpick comes out clean.
  1. Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature on a wire rack before cutting into slices. Enjoy!

Recipe Note

Should you desire a little extra sweetness to your banana bread, adding 1/2 cup of chocolate chips will provide what you’re looking for. Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top before baking can also add a kick to your bread. Walnuts can also be a fun addition!

sliced banana bread with butter on it
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4 Ingredient Banana Bread Recipe

A great way to use up overripe bananas and can be enjoyed as a breakfast, snack, or even dessert.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American
Keyword: 4 ingredient banana bread, banana bread
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 173kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 bananas
  • 2 cups self-rising flour
  • ¾ cups light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8.5-inch pan with parchment paper.
  • Peel overripe bananas and place them in a large mixing bowl. Mash bananas with a fork into a puree.
  • Add the eggs and whisk together until well combined.
  • Add the light brown sugar and stir until combined.
  • Add the flour to the mixture and mix until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
  • Pour batter into a loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the middle. Bread is complete when the toothpick comes out clean.
  • Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature on a wire rack before cutting into slices. Enjoy!

Notes

Should you desire a little extra sweetness to your banana bread, adding 1/2 cup of chocolate chips will provide what you’re looking for. Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top before baking can also add a kick to your bread. Walnuts can also be a fun addition!

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 1mg

How Ripe Should Bananas Be?

Overripe bananas are best for this 4-ingredient banana bread recipe, as the flavor is at their peak. If you do not have overripe bananas, it is possible to simulate the effect by placing them in the oven on a baking sheet while preheating. Be sure to leave the peel on for this process – it will turn black when ready for use.

When you’re using overripe bananas, try to make your banana bread just before they turn black. When they’re brown with just a few spots of yellow make for the ideal bananas. If your bananas have reached this point and you aren’t quite prepared to make your bread yet, you can pop them in the fridge for a day or two.

In fact, if you have ripe bananas that you want to use in banana bread next week, putting them in the fridge is a good move! The refrigerator can keep bananas ripe for around 5 to 7 days. It won’t take long for them to be in peak condition for 4 ingredient banana bread after that time.

sliced banana bread with butter on it

Why Is My Banana Bread Too Moist?

When your banana bread is more like banana bread pudding, you likely didn’t use the proper amount of flour. When measuring flour, you should place the measuring cup on a level surface. Or, if you’re using a full measuring cup, be sure to level off the top.

Too moist banana bread might also result from too many bananas. If you didn’t have large bananas and used a few extra small bananas to compensate, you may have added too many.  Discovering the perfect consistency for your banana bread batter is ideal for determining if your bread will be correct. 

Too much moisture is also common when you leave your bread in the loaf pan to cool. The moisture gets trapped beneath the bread, making a soggy bottom. Place the bread on a wire rack on the counter as it cools to prevent this mistake.

When the bread has cooled, you can store it in an airtight container or plastic wrap for 3 to 4 days at room temperature. If you place the bread in storage containers or wrap it before it has cooled, moisture will accrue.

Why is My Banana Bread Dry?

Dry banana bread results from too much flour in your recipe in relation to the wet ingredients. If your bananas are too small, you might not have compensated with less flour and sugar. If you struggle to get the dry ingredients moist, you may need another banana. 

While your easy banana bread recipe will no longer be a 4 ingredient banana bread, you could add other ingredients as a solution. Other ingredients can make your bread more moist. Try adding a tablespoon of oil or butter for a more moist bread.

Another cause of dry banana bread is leaving it in the oven for too long. Since all ovens are slightly different, 45 minutes might be too long for your bread. Check its doneness after 35 minutes and continue to check every so often until the toothpick comes out clean. 

It is also important to remember that many people mis-measure flour. You don’t need to pack the flour in – which happens when you use your measuring cup as a scoop. Instead, use a spoon to transfer the flour to the measuring cup.

Making Banana Bread Muffins

You can use the same 4 ingredient banana bread recipe to make delectable muffins. It’s easier to use muffin liners when baking these muffins, but they are not required. If you opt out of the liners, grease your muffin tin with cooking spray before adding the batter.

Pour each muffin liner ¾ full and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 18 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin and ensure it comes out clean. When the muffins are done, remove each from the tin using a small spoon or spatula. 

While it might be tempting to devour these muffins straight out of the oven, they should be cooled on a cooling rack before eating. When cool, enjoy your tasty 4 ingredient banana bread muffins. They go exceptionally well with peanut butter!

Fun Additions to Add To Banana Bread

If you can’t help yourself with adding a fifth ingredient, below are a list of some of our favorite and fun ingredients to include in banana bread:

  1. Chocolate chips: These add a delicious chocolate flavor and a nice texture contrast to the bread.
  2. Nuts: Chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds add a nice crunch and an earthy flavor to the bread.
  3. Spices: A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are all great options that pair well with banana flavor.
  4. Dried fruit: Chopped raisins, cranberries, or apricots add a chewy texture and a touch of sweetness.
  5. Coconut: Adding shredded coconut gives a tropical twist to the bread.
  6. Peanut butter: Swirl in some peanut butter or fold in chunks of peanut butter fudge!
  7. Spirits: Mix in a splash of rum or whiskey to give the bread a boozy kick.
  8. Citrus zest: Add some lemon or orange zest for a subtle citrus flavor.

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Have questions or suggestions about this 4 ingredient banana bread recipe? Leave them in the comments below.

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