Best Banana Bread Recipe (Moist!)

Best Banana Bread Recipe (Moist!) is not just a bold claim—it’s your new go-to loaf for rich banana flavor and a perfectly soft texture. Thanks to a secret ingredient (hint: it’s sour cream), this banana bread stays incredibly tender for days. Whether you like it plain, with nuts, or loaded with chocolate chips, this recipe is the versatile base you’ve been searching for.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

this recipe

• 🍌 Super moist & never dry, thanks to sour cream
• 🧈 Buttery and tender crumb with a golden crust
• 💛 Balanced banana flavor without being too sweet
• 🧁 Easy to customize with chocolate chips, nuts, or spices
• 🍽️ Freezer-friendly and perfect for make-ahead baking

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2½ medium bananas)
• ½ cup sour cream

Dry Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup oat flour (or blend rolled oats into powder)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• Optional:
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon cloves
  • ½–¾ cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans

Instructions

1. Prep the oven
   Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter & sugars
   In a large bowl, beat softened butter with both sugars until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Add eggs & banana
   Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and mashed banana until smooth.
4. Combine dry ingredients
   In a separate bowl (or directly into the batter), mix flour, oat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and optional spices.
5. Mix and fold
   Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until just combined. Gently fold in sour cream and optional nuts.
6. Bake
   Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55–65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (moist crumbs are okay).
7. Cool and serve
   Cool in pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm with butter or your favorite spread.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 55–65 minutes
• Total Time: ~1 hr 15 mins
• Servings: 10 slices
• Calories: ~257 per slice

Nutrition Facts (Per Slice)

• Calories: 257
• Fat: 14g
• Carbs: 32g
• Sugar: 19g
• Protein: 3g
• Fiber: 1g
• Cholesterol: 53mg
• Sodium: 180mg

(Estimates only.)

Tips & Variations

• Ripe bananas rule: Look for brown-speckled bananas for max flavor.
• No oat flour? Swap with more all-purpose flour.
• Extra flavor: Add ½ tsp almond extract or orange zest.
• Mix-ins: Try mini chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, or toasted coconut.
• Muffin version: Bake at 425°F for 5 min, then 350°F for 15–18 min.

FAQs

Q: Can I use yogurt instead of sour cream?
Yes! Plain Greek yogurt works well as a substitute.

Q: Can I freeze banana bread?
Absolutely. Wrap the whole loaf or slices tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.

Q: How ripe should bananas be?
They should be mostly brown with soft flesh—not black or rotten-smelling.

Q: Can I make this gluten-free?
Try using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oat flour.

Q: Why add sour cream?
It adds moisture without thinning the batter, keeping the bread rich but sliceable.

Banana Bread Recipe

Moist and fluffy banana bread made with sour cream for perfect texture. Simple, sweet, and ready to customize.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 12

Course: bread

Cuisine: American

Calories: 257

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• #### Wet Ingredients
• – ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• – ½ cup brown sugar
• – ½ cup white sugar
• – 2 eggs
• – 2 tsp vanilla extract
• – 1 cup mashed ripe bananas about 2½ bananas
• – ½ cup sour cream
• #### Dry Ingredients
• – 1 cup all-purpose flour
• – ½ cup oat flour or blended oats
• – 1 tsp baking soda
• – 1½ tsp baking powder
• – ¾ tsp salt
• – Optional:
• – ¼ tsp cinnamon
• – ⅛ tsp nutmeg
• – ⅛ tsp cloves
• – ½–¾ cup chopped nuts

Equipment

• – Loaf pan
• Stand or hand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Cream butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until fluffy.
3. Add eggs, vanilla, and mashed banana. Mix well.
4. Stir in flour, oat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and optional spices.
5. Gently fold in sour cream and nuts, if using.
6. Pour into pan and bake 55–65 min. Test with toothpick.
7. Cool before slicing. Serve warm or at room temp.

Notes

– No sour cream? Use Greek yogurt.
– Swap oat flour for all-purpose if needed.
– Freeze in slices for quick snacks.

Conclusion

This Best Banana Bread Recipe (Moist!) hits that perfect sweet spot—literally. With the right balance of flavor, texture, and ease, it’s destined to become your all-time favorite loaf. Whether for breakfast, snack time, or dessert, one bite will convince you: this really is the moist banana bread you’ve been waiting for.