One-banana Banana Bread (2024)

This quick and easy one-banana banana bread recipe can be made with just one banana and a few pantry staples. It bakes up moist and sweet with a decadent cinnamon sugar crust.

Last week, I shared Dominique Ansel’s banana bread (AKA my favorite banana bread recipe in the entire world) with you, and promised in the post that I’d make a mini version for all you small-batch bakers out there.

As promised, here is a cute little mini version of my favorite banana bread.

One-banana Banana Bread (1)

Small-batch Banana Bread

This mini version bakes in a 5.5 x 3-inch loaf pan (or can be baked as muffins in a muffin tin) and like my small-batch banana muffins, it can be made with just a single brown banana.

The bread is soft, moist, buttery, and just such a treat. And to make things even better, there’s a crinkly cinnamon sugar crust over the top that is just SO good.

Ingredient Notes

One-banana Banana Bread (2)

  • One brown banana: You need just one brown banana for this recipe. If you have a banana, but it’s not quite brown enough for baking, check out my post on how to quickly ripen bananas.
  • Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter here, just make sure to read the recipe notes and add more or less salt depending on which you’re using.
  • Cinnamon sugar: The cinnamon sugar crust, is optional (but highly recommended). If you’re not a huge fan of cinnamon or don’t want the extra sweetness, you can skip it.

How To Make One-banana Banana Bread

One-banana Banana Bread (3)

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt.

2. Combine most of the wet ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, mash the banana and whisk in the egg until well-combined. Pour banana mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just-combined.

3. Add butter: Add melted butter, and mix until butter is incorporated into the batter. Don’t over mix, but there should not be melted butter remaining around the edges of the batter (note the way the batter looks in the last photo above).

One-banana Banana Bread (4)

4. Bake: Transfer the batter to your prepared loaf pan, leaving ¾-inch of space from the top of the pan (discard extra batter if there is too much). Sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over the top of the batter, and bake until a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

5. Enjoy: Allow to cool in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes before removing and slicing.

One-banana Banana Bread (5)

FAQ

I love this recipe, can I make a full-size version?

Absolutely! If you want to make a full-size loaf of this banana bread, go check out my post My Favorite Banana Bread.

How do I store this banana bread?

Store the bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.

I don’t have a 5.5 x 3-inch loaf pan. What can I use instead?

Any mini loaf pan around that size will work, so if you have something that’s similar in size but not exact, feel free to use it. Just be sure to leave about ¾ of an inch of space from the top of the pan when you add your batter so it doesn’t overflow in your oven.

If you don’t own a mini loaf pan at all, these are the ones I own, or you can bake the batter in a muffin tin. It will make 5 to 6 banana muffins. Bake at 350°F for 17 to 22 minutes.

One-banana Banana Bread (6)

More Small-batch Breakfast Recipes

  • Pancakes for One
  • Homemade Mocha
  • Cream Scones
  • The Best Cinnamon Toast

More Banana Recipes

  • Small-batch Chocolate Banana Muffins
  • Banana Milkshake
  • Banana Pancakes
  • 20+ Banana Recipes to Use Up Your Brown Bananas

One-banana Banana Bread (7)

One-banana Banana Bread

This quick and easy one-banana banana bread recipe can be made with just one banana and a few pantry staples. It bakes up moist and sweet with a decadent cinnamon sugar crust.

4.88 from 66 votes

Print Pin

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 32 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 57 minutes minutes

Servings (Hover or Click to Change Yield): 6 slices

Calories: 183kcal

Author: Tracy

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • teaspoon baking soda
  • teaspoon salt *
  • 1 medium overripe banana
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) salted butter melted*

Cinnamon Sugar Crust

Instructions

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a mini loaf pan, line with parchment paper sling (optional), and set aside.

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

  • In a separate medium bowl, mash the banana and whisk in the egg until well-combined. Pour banana mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just-combined.

  • Add melted butter, and mix until butter is incorporated into the batter. Don’t over mix, but there should not be pools of butter remaining around the edges of the batter.

  • Transfer the batter to your prepared loaf pan, leaving ¾ inch of space from the top of the pan (discard extra batter if there is too much).

Optional Cinnamon Sugar Crust

  • In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter.

Bake

  • Bake for 30 to 38 minutes, until a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

  • Allow to cool in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes before removing and slicing.

  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

*If using unsalted butter, use 1/4 teaspoon salt.

For muffins, bake at the same temperature for 17 to 22 minutes. This recipe will make 5 to 6 regular-size muffins.

Store bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag @BakingMischief or hashtag it #BakingMischief.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using them. There is absolutely no additional cost to you.

One-banana Banana Bread (2024)

FAQs

What can I substitute if I don't have enough bananas for banana bread? ›

Try using pumpkin puree or applesauce instead of bananas in your banana bread. These substitutes will keep your bread moist and add a new twist to the flavor, though they tweak the texture and taste a bit.

Why is my banana bread still gooey in the middle? ›

Using too much banana could make your bread heavy and damp in the center, causing it to appear undercooked and unappealing. If you have bananas leftover, you can always freeze them for later use.

How many bananas are in Chrissy Teigen's banana bread? ›

Because of that volume, this requires a lot of bananas. (Like six of them, as you might recall from when Chrissy put a call out to her Twitter followers for brown bananas since she didn't have enough at home.)

How to get banana bread to cook in the middle? ›

Try lowering the temperature by 25°F, and bake for a slightly longer time. If you are using a dark colored pan like many non-stick pans it will cause the outside to brown more quickly while the inside stays raw. The same fix will work, just lower the temperature.

How many cups is one banana? ›

1 banana: 2/3 cup chopped | 1/2 cup mashed. 1-1/2 bananas: 1 cup chopped | 3/4 cup mashed. 2 bananas: 1-1/3 cups chopped | 1 cup mashed. 3 bananas: 2 cups chopped | 1-1/2 cups mashed.

How much applesauce equals one banana? ›

Applesauce (store-bought or homemade) can substitute for a banana in baked goods. Replace one banana with 1/2 cup of applesauce, but don't use more than 1 cup of applesauce because the mixture will be too wet.

Are slimy bananas OK for banana bread? ›

The Science Behind the Banana Ripening Process

But, there is a limit. Black bananas or rotten bananas are a no-go. (Note that green bananas are also not a good choice for baking.) But those with slightly black peels and a little bit of excess liquid are perfect for turning into a loaf of banana bread magic.

How long does banana bread cook in the oven? ›

Bake at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean and the top springs back to the touch. Tip: Check the bread at 40 minutes. If the top is well browned but the loaf still needs more time, tent it with foil to prevent further browning as it continues to bake.

Are bananas ever too ripe for banana bread? ›

Indeed, there is such a thing as a banana that's too far gone even for baking. That's why you should know just which levels of banana ripeness are actually good to use for banana bread. Visual checks can be tricky. Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking.

Is it OK to eat a bunch of bananas? ›

Eating too many bananas or other high-potassium foods can cause excess potassium in the body, also called hyperkalemia. This can cause serious health problems, including heart issues. While most people wouldn't be able to stomach the number of bananas necessary to cause this to happen, it's something to be mindful of.

What is the average number of bananas in a banana bunch? ›

Grow in bunches

Each cluster is known as a hand and consists of 10 to 20 bananas. When harvested, the hands are usually cut into smaller hands of 4 to 6 for easier packing. An individual banana is known as a finger.

Can you put too much banana in banana bread? ›

The experts at Allrecipes list excessive bananas as a common banana bread-making blunder, claiming it could make the bread feel a bit more hefty and moist in the middle. So instead of nice, airy, light bread, you might end up with mushy, dense bread that seems undercooked.

Why is my banana bread still gooey after an hour? ›

Using a lot of bananas adds excess moisture, and there are two ways to get rid of it. You could either add more flour or increase the baking time.

How long should you let banana bread cool? ›

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.

Can bananas be too off for banana bread? ›

In my experience, using bananas with a dark brown or even black peel for banana bread is ideal, as long as the inside isn't rotten. Key takeaway: As long as your bananas aren't starting to get moldy, infested with fruit flies or beginning to rot they aren't too ripe for baking banana bread.

How do you replace bananas with eggs in baking? ›

Mashed Banana

For this swap, use 1/4 cup of mashed ripe banana per egg. Note that riper bananas have more sugar and moisture, so consider reducing other sweeteners and liquids in the recipe.

What food is equivalent to a banana? ›

If you're a banana hater looking for a substitute, kiwi is the perfect fruit for you. Other fruits that contain nutrients similar to bananas include cantaloupes and mangos.

How many slices of bread is equivalent to a banana? ›

it's not easy to make a direct equivalence between bread and a banana because they are different types of food with distinct nutritional profiles. however, if you're looking for a rough estimate, one medium-sized banana is roughly equivalent to one slice of bread in terms of carbohydrate content.

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