Modified: by Stefanie Fauquet · This post may contain affiliate links · 32 Comments
Is there anything more comforting than a warm slice of Banana Bread? The answer is no! This homemade banana bread recipe is easy to prepare & tastes amazing. It makes a great snack if you are having people over!
Moist Banana Bread
Is there anything more comforting than a thick, warm slice of banana bread? Just the thought of it brings back memories of my childhood. I have always been a fan of bananas, but it took many years before I tried my hand at baking banana bread.
Once I realized out how easy it was, I have found that I let my bananas get ripe on purpose, just to make this delicious moist banana bread recipe.
You probably have all of the ingredients already in your pantry (just add some ripe bananas!). Oh, and this bread freezes fantastically well. I like to make a double batch, so I will always have an extra loaf on hand!
Yes, banana bread can be frozen. Once cooled, wrap banana bread tightly with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or place in a freezer bag. To defrost, leave unwrapped on the counter for a few hours. Individual slices can also be frozen using the same method that was stated before. Store the remaining banana bread in an airtight container.
Can You Make Banana Bread into Muffins?
This simple banana bread recipe can be made into muffins by pouring the batter into a muffin tin, ¾ of the way full. Baking time will be significantly less and will vary-- Check on banana bread muffins at 15 minutes and test for doneness with a toothpick in the center until it comes out completely clean.
Does Banana Bread Need to be Refrigerated?
Banana bread can be left unrefrigerated on a counter for a few days if it is wrapped tightly with plastic wrap, foil, or stored in an airtight container. This will keep the banana bread moist and flavorful.
You can refrigerate banana bread for up to a week; any more than that will make the bread too dry. Consider freezing leftovers if it won't be consumed within a few days of baking.
What Goes with Banana Bread?
Banana bread is delicious on its own, warm, or at room temperature. You can also serve banana bread with butter, cream cheese frosting, or honey. It makes a great snack if you are having people over!
Fortunately, one of the most glaring baking problems has an easy solution: ensuring your bread stays moist. The key is twofold: use quality ingredients and let the dough stand overnight. If you're using storebought flour, opt for “bread flour,” which will hold better in heat and help create a more tender crumb.
Place a paper towel at the bottom of an airtight container or in a zip-top bag. Place the cooled banana bread on top of it, then cover the loaf with another paper towel. Seal the container tightly and refrigerate for up to one week.
Moisture is key when it comes to banana bread, and the ratio of flour to banana makes all the difference. If you use too much flour, you'll end up with dry bread. If you don't use enough, your bread will be too wet. The secret is actually in how you measure the flour.
Ripe bananas are not only softer and easier to mash and blend into a batter, but they are also sweeter, which is why baking recipes specifically call for ripe bananas in ingredient lists. As the bananas ripen, the fruit converts starches to sugars, making them sweeter and more flavorful.
A simple and cost-effective method of applying moisture to both the dough and the oven is to use a small handheld water sprayer, available from most supermarkets or online.
foil. Storing bread in either plastic, cloth, or foil helps retain the loaf's moisture. This moisture retention is a plus when it comes to the bread's crumb (interior) — but a minus if you're talking crunchy-crispy crust, since wrapping bread will inevitably soften its crust as well as its crumb.
The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter. The crust of the bread also gets more caramelization. Be aware that bread made with milk should not be baked at too high of a temperature to prevent it from browning too much too soon.
Let it cool for 10 minutes — this helps the loaf solidify and makes it easier to remove from the pan. Remove from pan and cool another 10 minutes. Grasping the parchment paper sling, lift the loaf out of the pan and place on the cooling rack. Cool for another 10 minutes before slicing.
Adding more eggs makes for a spongy, less flavorful banana bread. Doubling the number of eggs I was using resulted in a spongy cake with a moist texture. While the banana flavor was present, it wasn't as prominent as it was in other loaves. This had more of a hint of flavor.
When to use which one. Baking soda is used in recipes that also include an acidic ingredient, such as cream of tartar, buttermilk, or citrus juice. Conversely, baking powder is typically used when the recipe doesn't feature an acidic ingredient, as the powder already includes the acid needed to produce carbon dioxide.
If so, I would dump out all the flour, remeasure and then add in the correct amount, subtracting a little bit (say a half teaspoon) for the flour you couldn't remove that stuck to the other ingredients. Was it before you baked it?
As it sits at room temperature, starches convert to sugars, making the fruit sweeter and softer. These brown spots, often seen as a sign of spoilage, are actually a dead giveaway of peak banana bread potential. But, there is a limit. Black bananas or rotten bananas are a no-go.
While browned bananas are great for baking, there comes a point when they're past their prime. With mold and decay, it's best to throw them away for safety reasons. If you see fruit flies, it's time to throw the bananas away!
Hydrocolloids can retain moisture in the bread. This is important because moisture plays a crucial role in the freshness and softness of bread. By holding onto water, hydrocolloids help prevent the bread from drying out too quickly, thus maintaining its moistness for longer.
Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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