Banana & Honey Bread Recipe

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This Banana & Honey Bread recipe is a moist and easy recipe, which uses ripe bananas and sweet honey. It’s the perfect way to use up ripe bananas, a great choice for breakfast or a snack, ready in about an hour.

Banana & Honey Bread Ingredients

A simple, wholesome list for a perfectly sweet and moist loaf.

3 to 4 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup (75g) melted butter
8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) runny honey, divided
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups (180g) all-purpose flour
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

How To Make Banana & Honey Bread

A step-by-step guide to this wonderfully simple and flavorful quick bread.

Prep the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 175°C/350°F/gas 4. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until they are mostly smooth. Stir in the melted butter, 4 tablespoons (half) of the honey, the beaten egg, and the vanilla extract.
Combine and Bake: Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the wet ingredients and stir. Add the flour and mix with a spatula until just combined—be careful not to overmix. If using, gently fold in the chopped nuts.
Glaze and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Drizzle the remaining 4 tablespoons of honey evenly over the top of the batter.
Bake and Cool: Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Tips

For the most delicious and perfectly moist banana bread.

How do I know when my bananas are ripe enough? The best bananas for banana bread are the ones you think are past their prime! They should be heavily speckled with brown or even completely black. These overripe bananas are much sweeter and have a more intense banana flavor, which is perfect for baking.
How to get a moist banana bread? Using very ripe bananas is the number one secret to a moist loaf. The melted butter and honey also contribute to a tender, moist crumb. Be very careful not to overmix the batter once you add the flour, as this can make the bread tough and dry.
Can I make this into muffins? Yes, absolutely. This batter will make about 12 standard-sized muffins. Line a muffin tin with paper cases, fill them about two-thirds full, and drizzle the honey on top. The baking time will be much shorter, around 20-25 minutes.
How to prevent the top from getting too dark? Because of the honey drizzled on top, the crust will caramelize and darken. If you notice it getting too brown before the center is cooked, you can loosely tent a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the loaf for the last 15-20 minutes of baking.

What To Serve With Banana & Honey Bread

Classic accompaniments for this sweet and comforting loaf.

This delicious bread is a treat all on its own, but it’s especially wonderful:

Served warm with a generous spread of salted butter
Toasted for breakfast
With a cup of hot coffee or a tall glass of cold milk

How To Store Banana & Honey Bread

Keeping your loaf fresh and moist.

Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, store the banana bread in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It will stay moist and delicious at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Banana & Honey Bread Nutrition Facts

An estimated guide per slice.

Calories: 250 kcal
Carbohydrates: 45 g
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 7 g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Can I make this banana bread vegan?

To make this vegan, you could try substituting the butter with an equal amount of melted coconut oil or another vegan butter, using a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) in place of the egg, and ensuring your honey is a vegan-friendly brand or substituting it with maple syrup.

Why did my banana bread sink in the middle?

A sunken center is usually a sign that the bread was under-baked. The outside may look done, but the inside needs more time for the structure to set. It can also happen from opening the oven door too early. Always test for doneness with a long skewer inserted deep into the center.

Can I freeze banana bread?

Yes, this bread freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely, then wrap the whole loaf or individual slices tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Try More Recipes:

Jamie Oliver Air Fryer Yoghurt Flatbread
Vegan Banana Bread Recipe
Jamie Oliver Aubergine Breadcrumbs

Course: BreakfastCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

250

kcal

An incredibly easy and moist banana bread, sweetened naturally with ripe bananas and a sticky honey glaze, with a wonderfully soft and tender crumb.

Ingredients

3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
8 tbsp runny honey, divided
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 175°C/350°F. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, melted butter, 4 tablespoons of the honey, the egg, and vanilla.
Stir in the baking soda and salt.
Add the flour and mix with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix. Fold in the nuts, if using.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Drizzle the remaining 4 tablespoons of honey evenly over the top.
Bake for 50-60 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

The riper your bananas are (the more brown spots, the better!), the sweeter and more moist your bread will be.
Be careful not to overmix the batter once the flour is added, as this can result in a tough, dense bread.
If the top is browning too quickly due to the honey, loosely cover it with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
This bread is delicious on its own but is fantastic when served warm and slathered with butter.