Banana Bread Secret Ingredient
Our Banana Bread recipe with a secret ingredient, is so moist and delicious, and the perfect gift to give to neighbors, as hostess gifts, or holiday homemade gifts. There’s also a secret step to take to making the recipe. It’s the easiest banana bread recipe to enjoy warm, with a little bit of butter!
I love a good banana bread recipe, and it’s even better with a secret ingredient. Double the recipe when baking for neighbors, or you want to freeze a few loaves. Or, if you love the combo of bananas and walnuts, you must also try our Banana Walnut Cake (my mom’s recipe).
Banana Bread Secret Ingredient
I’ve been thinking a lot about hospitality, and meeting new people in our neighborhoods and towns. When I think about hospitality, I think of banana bread. Isn’t it he best gift to bring to a new neighbor in town? I mean, when it’s warm, and gooey and soft, and sliced thickly with a slab of salted butter. It truly is the best. Everyone asks, what makes this recipe so good? (There are a few steps to take!)
Read more: Banana Bread Secret Ingredient
Our recipe has a secret that a reader shared with me. I was doubtful, thinking that it didn’t really make a difference. Keep reading and see what you think!
Why we love this recipe
- It’s delicious and easy.
- Your neighbors will love a loaf :)
- We love to double the recipe and freeze the loaves for a rainy day!
- You can leave out the walnuts if you aren’t a walnut fan.
Gather these ingredients:
- Butter: make sure it’s softened
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Sour cream
- Salt
- Mashed bananas: make sure they are ripened (not under-ripe)
- Extracts: both vanilla and almond
- Nuts: walnuts!
How do you make banana bread?
- Grease and flour one 9-inch loaf pan (or 3 small ones). Pan should be 3/4 full of batter.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix well.
- Whisk together the flour and salt; combine with the butter mixture.
- In a separate bowl, add baking soda to the sour cream; stir well. Add in the bananas, vanilla and almond extracts, and walnuts; stir well.
- Combine this mixture to the main mixture; mix well.
- Pour into prepared pans and bake!
- Cool and then turn the loaf out onto a rack.
Tips and substitutions:
Guess what? There is one more step that makes the MOISTEST banana bread!
- Now you want to know the secret? Add in baking soda to the sour cream and stir. This combination mixed into the banana bread mixture is the secret to a moist, fluffy, amazing bread!
- The secret ingredient? Almond extract? Another great secret!
- Optional to replace the walnuts with other nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, pecans).
- You can use vanilla extract only (if you don’t want to add the almond).
- If you need to replace the sour cream, use Greek yogurt.
- Bake, serve, and enjoy (or give away!)
More delicious quick breads:
- Pumpkin Date Bread
- Healthy Banana Bread with Dates
- Raspberry Almond Scones
- Super Moist Greek Yogurt Banana Bread
If you love blueberries, you can combine and make Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Bread.
Get the Recipe:
Banana Bread Secret Ingredient
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 ½ cup mashed bananas, about 3
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- ½ tsp. almond extract
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one 9-inch loaf pan (or 3 small ones). Pan should be 3/4 full of batter.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix well.
- Whisk together the flour and salt; combine with the butter mixture.
- SECRET STEP: In a separate bowl, add 1 tsp. baking soda to the sour cream; stir well. Add in the bananas, vanilla and almond extracts, and walnuts; stir well.
- Combine this mixture with the main mixture; mix well.
- Pour into prepared pans and bake for 50 minutes.
- Cool for 10 minutes and then turn the loaf out onto a rack.
Notes
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
Best banana bread! Has so much flavor. I toast my walnuts first and then add to the recipe. Perfection! Moist, and delicious!
I gave this recipe 5-STARS! However, I have a question: Does the recipe call for 1Cup, or 1.5Cups of Flour? I made it with 1.5Cups which made the batter so thick.
Thank you for your response.
It’s 1 1/2 cups of flours! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Do I have to use almond extract
No! Just use vanilla!
Moist! I wondered if I could use almond flour?
I’ve never tried it but I bet it would be delish!
Your recipe makes delicious muffins too, thank you for sharing!
I used paper liners in my muffin pan and filled them 2/3 full and baked for about 30 to 35 minutes until lightly browned on top.
I used pecans instead of walnuts since the hubby is allergic. I will definitely be making these again!
Can I substitute Greek Yogurt for the sour cream?
YES!
if you banana’s that are still green you can put them in the oven on 200 for ? 20 mins they will be rip enough to use for the bread
I’ve never tried that, Susanne!
I’ve made this recipe 5 tunes in the last month and a half. It requires 5 bowls for mixing, but it truly is the best banana walnut bread recipe ever
Made this for my neighbor! Hes always taking my garbage out and cleaning off my side walk. I hope he likes it! Better yet, I hope hes not allergic to any ingredients! Haha =) I’ll update and maybe he will give me a bite?
I couldn’t see when to add walnuts
Add the walnuts to the banana mixture! Thanks Liz, fixed :)
Yum! I have a recipe that uses sour cream. So good. I have a bunch of overripe bananas sitting in the freezer..maybe it’s time to pull them out and make some bread.