4 Ingredient Banana Bread Recipe

This easy 4-Ingredient Banana Bread makes for a fantastic breakfast, snack, or even dessert! It’s a great way to use overripe bananas, and it couldn’t be easier to make. With just 4 simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, you’ll be making this moist banana bread recipe at least once a week!

Why I Love This Easy Banana Bread Recipe

• 4 basic ingredients + just 3-5 minutes of your time to prep.
• I can basically make this delicious banana bread recipe in my sleep. It’s that easy.
• Simplify by using self-rising ingredients.
• Each loaf gets demolished by my family.
• Perfect for breakfast, snacks or any time you get that banana bread craving.
• Great way to use up overripe bananas.

I think it’s become apparent by now that I’m addicted to banana bread. So is my entire family. Not only is it a great way to use up bananas, but it’s the perfect breakfast or snack option. It even makes an amazing dessert!

I love to bring a few different types of banana bread to potlucks or dessert parties. And they make great holiday gifts for your neighbors or the kids’ teachers.

But I’m always looking for ways to switch things up just a little. Especially ways to make recipes a little simpler. That’s when I came up with this delicious 4-Ingredient Banana Bread that uses self-rising flour and couldn’t be easier to make. Seriously, I can pretty much make this quick bread recipe in my sleep!

I have to make two loaves every time because the first one never lasts more than an hour. It sometimes gets literally demolished by my teenage boys. At least my husband says it’s the boys. Hmmmm…

Simple Banana Bread Recipe Ingredients

This easy recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients for delicious tasting results.

Bananas - Ripe, mashed. If you have a fifth one lying around, cut it in half lengthwise and bake it into the top of the loaf (looks super fun).

Eggs - Slightly at room temp.

Brown sugar - Replace with another sweetener if desired.

Self rising flour - Super important that you find self-rising flour, as it contains the leavening agents that will help the bread to rise.

How to Make 4-Ingredient Banana Bread

Follow these simple step by step instructions for great tasting loaf of banana bread every single time.

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350° F and spray a loaf pan with cooking spray.

Step 2

Add the bananas to a large bowl and mash them using fork tines or a wooden spoon.

Step 3

Add the eggs, brown sugar and flour to the mashed bananas and stir to combine. Don’t overmix the batter.

Step 4

Pour the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. 

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let the baked bread cool for 10 minutes before cutting into thick slices and serving! See serving suggestions below.

Recipe Notes & Tips

• Use your favorite add-ins like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or extra banana slices or other fresh fruit.
• Don’t overmix the batter when combining the ingredients.
• Allow the egg to sit at room temperature a bit for better combining.
• You can use a flax egg instead of the regular eggs if you are allergic.
• For a gluten free version try your favorite GF baking flour brand like Bob’s Red Mill. 
• Cool the bread on a wire rack before slicing.

Additions to Banana Bread

You can add all sorts of great options to your homemade banana bread to personalize it to your tastes. I’ve included a few of my favorites to get you started with some ideas.

• Add your favorite chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
• Chop up soft caramel candies and mix them in with the batter.
• Swirl in some smooth or chunky peanut butter.
• Toss in some chopped nuts like regular or candied walnuts, almond slivers.
• I like to add fresh or dried fruits like strawberries, cherries, or blueberries.
• Add more banana bits or slices to the top of the bread before baking.
• Top the cooled banana bread with caramel drizzle or buttercream frosting, I like chocolate for it, but a banana buttercream frosting would put this over the very edge.

All Purpose Flour vs Self Rising Flour

There is one main difference between All-Purpose Flour and Self-Rising Flour. The latter is basically just all purpose flour with salt and baking powder added to it during manufacturing. 

Self rising flour is also made from a softer type of wheat, so it doesn’t contain as much protein as AP Flour. This yields a lighter, fluffier baked good.

You can make your own self-raising flour using regular flour, baking powder, and salt. But it is often noted that the baked goods don’t get the same tender result.

Can You Make Banana Bread With Unripe Bananas

It’s not recommended to  make banana bread using unripe or firm bananas. Banana bread gets its delicious banana flavor from very ripe bananas because of the higher sugar content in them.

There are a few ways you can quickly ripen your bananas. The traditional way is to put the unpeeled banana in a brown paper bag, close it, and leave it in a warm spot for a couple days. 

The closed bag will contain the ethylene gas released from the banana and ripen it faster. To speed up this ripening process, you can also add an apple, peach, or pear to the bag to increase the amount of ethylene in the brown bag. 

If you can’t wait that long, you can also put unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet in a 300-350° oven for about 10-15 minutes. The peels will blacken, but the banana itself will only get soft and sweet.

You can also use the microwave method and zap the bananas in 30 second intervals until they are soft. But take note, microwaved bananas will be softer but not as sweet as oven-baked.

How To Eat Banana Bread

• Eat thick slices with a big schmear of soft butter or peanut butter for breakfast or as a snack. 
• Turn it into a sweet sandwich bread for something like a Monte Cristo, Speaking of which, have I mentioned irresistible banana bread French toast?
• You can also turn this beautiful banana bread into a dessert! Try it as the base of a sundae with some ice cream and chocolate sauce or as a banana bread strawberry shortcake with fresh berries and loads of whipped cream.

How to Store Banana Bread

Allow the banana bread to cool before storing to avoid any condensation forming.

Store fresh banana bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or 1 week in the refrigerator.

Best Way To Freeze Banana Bread    

Did you know you can also freeze leftover banana bread for up to 1 year!

I slice the loaf and place a piece of parchment paper between each slice then wrap them in plastic wrap and place in a freezer safe bag. That way I can just grab the number of slices I need from the bag. Allow the frozen banana bread slices to thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator, or reheat the slices in the toaster.

More Recipes for Ripe Bananas

Banana Applesauce Pancakes
Banana Bread with Honey
3-Ingredient Banana Muffins
Banana Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies