
Moist Banana Bread
Banana bread is one of those homemade breads that came to the rescue of overly ripe bananas and ended up securing a permanent spot in family kitchens across the United States. This version is in the spirit of Chef Sam: practical, reliable, and ready for a weekday afternoon without complication. It works because it combines well-spotted bananas, melted butter, and a bit of yogurt—three allies for a moist crumb without being heavy. Brown sugar adds caramel flavor, and the walnuts provide a crunchy contrast. It bakes in a single loaf pan and is perfect for breakfast, lunchboxes, or coffee.
Prep
15 min
Cook
55 min
Total
70 min
Yield
8 servings
Origin
US · Estados Unidos
Ingredients
- Banana· very spotted, approximately 330 g without peel3 piece
- Unsalted butter· melted and warm115 g
- Muscovado sugar· lightly packed150 g
- Egg· at room temperature2 piece
- Plain yogurt· unsweetened60 g
- Vanilla extract2 tsp
- Wheat flour· sifted if lumpy250 g
- Baking soda1 tsp
- Salt0.5 tsp
- Ground cinnamon0.5 tsp
- Pecan· chopped, optional but recommended80 g
Method
- 01
Preheat the oven to 175°C. Line a 23 x 13 cm loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving tabs for easy removal.
- 02
Mash the ripe bananas in a large bowl with a fork until you have a rustic puree, with some small bits visible.
- 03
Stir in the melted unsalted butter and brown sugar into the banana puree. Beat for 1 minute until the mixture looks shiny and slightly thickened.
- 04
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the plain yogurt and vanilla extract, and beat just until combined.
- 05
In another bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, baking soda, fine salt, and ground cinnamon until evenly distributed.
- 06
Add the dry ingredients to the banana bowl in 2 batches. Mix with a spatula using folding motions until you no longer see dry flour; do not overmix.
- 07
Fold in the chopped pecans with 4 or 5 gentle motions, so they are distributed without toughening the batter.
- 08
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Bake at 175°C for 50 to 60 minutes, until the top is golden, slightly cracks in the center, and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs, not raw batter.
- 09
Let the banana bread rest in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing, to allow the crumb to finish setting.
Chef tips
- If you don't have plain yogurt, use sour cream in the same amount; it helps keep the banana bread moist.
- Avoid overmixing after adding the flour; this is the most common mistake and makes the banana bread dense.
- For a Chef Sam shortcut, toast the walnuts for 5 minutes in a dry skillet before using; they taste more intense without complicating the recipe.
- Store the bread wrapped at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; you can also freeze slices for up to 2 months.
Classifications
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