26 Best Banana Breads to Make the Most of Ripe Bananas

By Vanessa Greaves

FoodFan

You know those bananas that go from green around the edges to mushy dark brown before you got a chance to eat them? Don't you dare toss them out! They're absolutely perfect for making banana bread instead. In fact, the darker they are, the sweeter they are. I'll share 26 top-rated recipes for banana bread and banana bread muffins, from classic to over-the-top. And if you can't bake them up right away, here's how to freeze overripe bananas to use later.

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Banana Banana Bread

barbara

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If you're looking for a moist, dense banana bread that fulfills the promise of loads of banana flavor, this is the recipe for you. Recipe reviewer SOULWOLF says, "I've made several banana bread recipes here and I always come back to this one, it is a wonderful standard recipe that you can build upon and customize to your liking."

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2 of 26

Double Banana Nut Bread

SC

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Five cups of mashed bananas and two cups of walnuts go into this double-loaf recipe. You can easily wrap and freeze the extra loaf for later. Home cook Reebs used this recipe to make mini loaves to give out at the holidays.

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Caramel Macchiato Banana Bread

Dianne

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"Baking banana bread is one of my favorites, and I love nothing more than enjoying a slice with a nice cup of coffee," says recipe creator Dianne. "This was the inspiration for my recipe, which features a coffee infused loaf and a rich caramel glaze."

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4 of 26

Nutella® Banana Split Bread

Kim's Cooking Now

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Home cook Kim's Cooking Now says, "If you have a sweet tooth (like I do), I think you will love this! It is very rich and decadent, and a little goes a long way. The caramel sauce is delicious, and I'm looking forward to drizzling some of that over ice cream or even in my coffee! I made this exactly as directed, but my loaf was done at about 54 minutes, so keep an eye on the time, knowing your own oven. Toothpick in the center should come out clean when done."

5 of 26

Maple Banana Bread

Dianne

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Maple syrup and maple extract give a double dose of maple flavor to this banana bread recipe. Can't find maple extract? Reviewer April Hunter raves, "I think this recipe is absolutely gorgeous! I couldn't find maple extract so i just used vanilla and it was absolutely fine."

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Banana Chocolate Chip Bread

My Hot Southern Mess

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Adding a cup of chocolate chips to banana bread batter turns this into dessert, right? For a pretty presentation, hold aside a handful of chips to sprinkle over the top of the loaf before it goes into the oven.

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7 of 26

Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread

OkinawanPrincess

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This tropical loaf features crushed pineapple, flaked coconut, walnuts, and maraschino cherries in the mix. "This was fantastic!" says chef24. "I substituted macadamia nuts for the walnuts to make it more Hawaiian, and it was wonderful!

8 of 26

Gluten Free Banana Bread

Starwitch

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Try this grain-free loaf loaded up with 6 ripe bananas (and whatever add-ins you like). Many reviewers noted their bake time took longer than the recipe specified, so keep those toothpicks handy and test for doneness.

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Joy's Easy Banana Bread

Marianne

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A quick and easy 15-minute prep is all it takes to get this banana bread recipe ready for the oven. "Delicious recipe!" says home cook mkueny. "The only change I made was adding an extra banana and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This is a great recipe and I will add some walnuts next time."

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Vegan Banana Muffins

Pora

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No eggs, butter, or dairy milk in these vegan muffins — however, the recipe does call for brown sugar and white sugar, neither of which is vegan because they're processed with bone char. To make these truly vegan, look for a vegan sugar substitute or sugar labeled as "vegan."

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Chocolate Banana Bread

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Chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and sour cream go into this chocolate-lovers' banana bread. "Great take on banana bread," says J. "The chocolate flavor was just right and did not overpower the banana flavor."

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Browned Butter Banana Bread

ReneePaj

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Recipe creator Chef V says, ""Browning the butter really adds a depth of flavor, not to mention it smells extra amazing when in the oven. This is my go-to recipe when I have ripe bananas, and has taken me a while to get it right. Enjoy it hot, fresh from the oven."

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Almond Flour Banana Bread

Michelle Edelbaum

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Almond flour, coconut oil, and honey flavor this gluten-free banana bread. Reviewer Sarah Faust Waddell says, "My daughter and I made it with half almond and half coconut flour. It makes the bread more like cake. She wants to make it almost every day!"

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Whole30® Banana Bread Drop Muffins

russell

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You'll want to use very ripe bananas to add the right sweetness in this sugar-free, grain-free banana bread recipe. We won't get into the whole argument against recreating baked goods with Whole30-approved ingredients; that's between you and your conscience.

15 of 26

Favorite Banana Blueberry Quick Bread

PARKER71

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Using frozen blueberries instead of fresh makes this a year-round treat. No need to thaw frozen blueberries, either. Just fold them into the batter and they'll thaw as the bread bakes.

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16 of 26

Banana-Zucchini Bread

Tammy Lynn

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Grated zucchini and dried cranberries make this zucchini banana bread extra moist and colorful. For best results, grate medium-size zucchini — they have more moisture than giant zucchini — and don't bother wringing out the moisture before folding into the batter; you want that moisture in your banana bread.

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Creamy Banana Bread

Dianne

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This cream cheese banana bread has a hidden pecan streusel layer tucked away in the middle. You could increase the amount of mashed bananas for extra flavor and moisture, if you wish.

18 of 26

Janet's Rich Banana Bread

FoodFan

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This 5-star sour cream banana bread has more than five thousand reviews. Some home cooks sliced the bananas as specified in the recipe, and some mashed them — and some both smashed and chunked them up. But everyone agrees you need to use very ripe bananas to get the sweet, rich banana flavor you're going for.

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Banana Bread Bars with Brown Butter Frosting

Traci Noche

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Taking the three to five minutes to brown the butter for the frosting adds a caramelized flavor that makes these banana bread bars stand out. "Brown butter has always been a favorite and these banana bars do not disappoint with this awesome frosting!" says home cook Yoly. "No changes or additions are necessary since this recipe is absolutely outstanding!"

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Banana Pumpkin Bread

Dianne

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Can't decide between banana bread and pumpkin bread? Try this pumpkin banana to get the best of both flavors. Home cook Stacy Karkazis Heffner says, "Loved this. Like others, I added an extra banana. I also through in a cup of chocolate chips instead of raisins and walnuts. So good."

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Whole Grain Banana Muffins

CC<3's2bake

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Whole wheat flour and wheat bran in the mix give these banana muffins a boost of whole-grain goodness. Reviewer Gelena C. says, "Loved it! I'm not a fan of raisins so I substituted with fresh chopped apple."

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Simple Peanut Butter Banana Bread

lutzflcat

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Recipe reviewer lutzflcat sprinkled chopped peanuts over the batter before baking to give the crust extra texture and flavor. She also recommends letting the loaf cool completely before slicing so the bread doesn't fall apart. Practice a little will-power, people!

23 of 26

Banana Crumb Muffins

TTV78

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Classic banana bread muffins get a buttery cinnamon sugar crumb topping before baking. So simple, even non-bakers had great success with this recipe.

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Best Ever Banana Bread

OkinawanPrincess

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Need to use up extra buttermilk? Try this buttermilk banana bread (it takes only 1/3 cup). Home cook BAKERMANJEFF says, "This banana bread lives up to its name as 'best banana bread.' It freezes perfectly and tasted just as good a week later as when I had just baked it."

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Almost No Fat Banana Bread

lutzflcat

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The recipe title isn't kidding — this low-fat banana bread is held together with egg whites, banana, and applesauce. How does it taste? "I've tried several low/no fat banana bread recipes and this one is by far the best," says home cook LoriEmard.

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Nanna's Banana Bread

Dianne

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Grandmas know how to do it right, and lucky for us, they like to share their recipes. "My Nanna Towgood has been making this loaf bread for over 40 years, and its a family favorite — moist, flavorful, and just the right amount of sweetness," says SHARON PARENTEAU. "You may substitute chocolate chips for the walnuts if you desire."

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