Published: by kaydimaggio
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This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread is so simple to make and perfect to share! A perfect way to use up those bananas that have been sitting on the counter!
*Originally published August 18, 2022and updatedwith new copy and photos 2/16/23.
Do you ever have those days where you are cleaning out your kitchen and you think "What am I to do with these brown, leftover bananas?" I know I do! I feel like I always have leftover bananas sitting around for some reason or another. The easiest way for me to use them up is to make banana bread, however sometimes I find that I don't have all the ingredients to make the bread on hand with me. Enter this 4 Ingredient Banana Bread!
This banana bread is so easy to make and only has 4 ingredients. It is perfect for those days when I want to make something delicious but only have simple ingredients on hand.
For some other fun recipes, check out this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread without Baking Soda, or these Banana Carrot Muffins!
Jump to:
- What Makes This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread So Great?
- Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Instructions
- Variations
- Storage
- Top tips
- Recipe FAQ's
- Other Great Desserts to Try!
- 4 Ingredient Banana Bread
- Food safety
What Makes This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread So Great?
- This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread is afun, family-friendly recipe!
- This sweet treat is theperfect shareable dessertfor parties or events!
- This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread isdairy-free and vegan!
- This Banana Breadis perfect for breakfast on the go!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Bananas-For this recipe, you will want to use very ripe bananas. You know the kind, the ones that you question if they can make it another day or not. The longer a banana ripens, the sweeter it gets. Don't try and make this banana bread with green bananas!
- Unsweetened Applesauce- Applesauce replaces the butter and oil in this recipe and keeps the banana bread moist and delicious. Feel free to swap it for ½ cup oil or butter if you prefer.
- Vanilla Cake Mix- The secret ingredient in this recipe is boxed vanilla cake mix! If you didn't know, most boxed mixes are vegan already, however always check the label to make sure. I love using the Simple Mills brand. It is clean and free of all the processed stuff!
A complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on therecipe card below.
Instructions
Step 1:Mash the bananas and make them as chunky or smooth as you'd like.
Step 2:Add the applesauce and almond milk to the banana and mix well.
Step 3: Mix in the cake mix until a thick batter forms
Step 4: Pour the batter into agreased loaf pan, and top with additional sliced banana for decoration, if you prefer. Bake for55 minutesor until the knife comes out clean when inserted into the middle.
Hint: Don't overmix the batter or you will end up with a dense banana bread.
Variations
- Chocolate Chips - Feel free to add some chocolate chips to the banana bread to make a fun variation.
- Walnuts - For a crunchy bite, mix some walnuts into the batter!
- Peanut Butter - For a banana bread fit for the King, add 1 cup of peanut butter to the batter for a rich peanut butter banana taste!
Storage
This banana bread contains a lot of moisture due to the applesauce. Once cooled, wrap tightly with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To freeze, wrap tightly in plastic wrap or store in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag for up to 3 months.
Top tips
- If your bananas arenot ripe enough yet, you can easily ripen them by baking them in the oven for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Set the bananas on a baking sheet,do not peel them. Bake for 30 minutes, let cool, peel, and mash as directed.
- Make sure to store the banana bread in the fridge. This banana bread has a high moisture content which means it will spoil quicker if leftovers are left at room temp.
- You can also make banana bread muffins with this recipe. Instead of pouring the batter into a loaf pan, fill muffin tins ¾ of the way and bake for 25 minutes!
Recipe FAQ's
Do you put egg in banana bread?
Yes, most banana bread recipes contain eggs, however, I like to keep mine egg-free by using applesauce. Applesauce contains pectin which will help bind the ingredients.
Why is my banana bread not moist?
The key to making moist banana bread is the ratio of flour to banana. It makes all the difference. If you use too much flour, you'll end up with dry bread.If you don't use enough, your bread will be too wet.
Can bananas be too ripe for banana bread?
Yes, if the bananas are fully brown and wet, they have gone past their use-by date. You want to make sure the outer portion of the banana is dry but still brown for the perfect banana.
Other Great Desserts to Try!
- Red, White and Blue Pound Cake (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- The BEST Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
- Banana Pudding Lasagna
- Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake with Red Wine
4 Ingredient Banana Bread
kaydimaggio
This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread is so simple to make and perfect to share! A perfect way to use up those bananas that have been sitting on the counter!
5 from 48 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 slices
Calories 403 kcal
Equipment
1 glass mixing bowls
1 spatula
1 Masher
1 Loaf Pan
Ingredients
- 1 box Vanilla Cake Mix
- 4 large Bananas
- ¾ cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- ½ cup Almond Milk
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Mash the bananas and make them as chunky or smooth as you'd like.
Add the applesauce and almond milk to the banana and mix well.
Mix in the cake mix until a thick batter forms
Pour the batter into agreased loaf pan, and top with additional sliced banana for decoration, if you prefer. Bake for55 minutes-1 houror until the knife comes out clean when inserted into the middle.
Notes
- If your bananas arenot ripe enough yet, you can easily ripen them by baking them in the oven for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Set the bananas on a baking sheet,do not peel them. Bake for 30 minutes, let cool, peel, and mash as directed.
- Make sure to store the banana bread in the fridge. This banana bread has a high moisture content which means it will spoil quicker if leftovers are left at room temp.
- You can also make banana bread muffins with this recipe. Instead of pouring the batter into a loaf pan, fill muffin tins ¾ of the way and bake for 25 minutes!
Nutrition
Calories: 403kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 4gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.3gSodium: 541mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 4gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 583IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 154mgIron: 2mg
Keyword breakfast, dessert
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Erin says
? yummy!Reply
Amy Liu Dong says
I love banana bread and this one looks so easy and delicious.
I am going to make this at home. Thank you!Reply
Sarah Swanberg says
I used to be terrified of vegan baking because I felt like I would always mess it up somehow. But with this recipe being only 4 ingredients and so easy to make, there was no way I could mess it up! It turned out delicious. I can always trust Kayla’s vegan baking recipes to turn out perfectly with no surprises!Reply
