Banana Bread With 2 Bananas (Small-Batch, Still Moist)

What Makes This Recipe Work

Two large bananas mash into about 1 cup, which is enough fruit for a small loaf as long as every other ingredient comes down with it. Keeping the batter thick and the pan narrow gives the loaf height without extra banana.

Ingredients for Banana Bread With 2 Bananas (Small

• 2 large very ripe bananas (about 1 cup / 225 g mashed)
• 1/4 cup (56 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar, or 1/3 cup for a less sweet loaf
• 1 large egg (50 g)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp (30 g) sour cream or plain yogurt (optional, for moisture)

How to Make Banana Bread With 2 Bananas (Small

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease an 8 by 4 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
3. Mash the two bananas in a large bowl until mostly smooth, leaving a few small lumps for texture.
4. Whisk the melted butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, and sour cream into the bananas until well blended.
5. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until no dry flour remains; the batter will be thick.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
7. Bake 40 to 48 minutes, until the loaf is golden and domed and a toothpick in the center comes out clean, or the center reads 200 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool fully before slicing.

Tips for the Best Banana Bread With 2 Bananas (Small

• Two large bananas give about 1 cup mashed; if yours are small, add a spoonful of yogurt to reach the volume.
• An 8 by 4 inch pan keeps the loaf tall with only 2 bananas; a 9 by 5 inch pan works but bakes in about 35 minutes.
• Because the batch is small, watch the loaf closely in the last 5 minutes so it does not dry out.

Variations and Substitutions

• Stir in 1/3 cup (57 g) chocolate chips for a smaller chocolate chip banana bread.
• Add 1/3 cup (40 g) chopped walnuts for a small banana nut bread.
• Use a gluten free flour blend with xanthan gum for a gluten free banana bread, keeping the other ratios the same.
• Double the recipe and bake in a 9 by 5 inch pan for 55 to 65 minutes for a full size loaf.

How to Store and Reheat

• Wrap the cooled loaf tightly and keep at room temperature up to 3 days or in the fridge up to 5 days.
• Freeze slices wrapped individually for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature.

Banana Bread With 2 Bananas (Small FAQ