Shreya Banana bread is a timeless comfort food that has earned its place in kitchens around the world. With its moist, flavorful texture and natural sweetness, it’s the perfect way to use up ripe bananas that might otherwise go to waste. Whether you’re baking it for breakfast, as a snack, or as a delicious treat for an afternoon coffee, banana bread is incredibly versatile. You can stick to the classic recipe, or experiment with add-ins like walnuts, chocolate chips, or a sprinkle of cinnamon for extra flavor.
In this case, I used chocolate chunks from a fig and ginger bark my coworker had gifted me. It really helps to use quality chocolate. I also chopped up some dates and added them into my banana bread batter. The secret ingredient though was the Greek yoghurt. Greek yogurt is a fantastic ingredient for making banana bread moist and soft due to its rich texture and natural acidity. The yogurt adds moisture to the batter without making it overly wet, helping to create a tender crumb. The acidity in Greek yogurt also reacts with the baking soda or baking powder in the recipe, which can enhance the rise of the bread, making it light and fluffy.
| Servings | 10 slices | |
| Prep time | 0 h | 10 mins |
| Cook time | 0 h | 60-80mins |
| Total time | 1h | 20 mins |
Ingredients needed for the banana bread
Wet ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup jaggery (can be substituted with brown sugar)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
Dry ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose fklour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Other ingredients
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips/chunks
- 1/8 cup chopped dates
Directions to make banana bread
- Preheat the oven to 325 F or 162.7C
- Line a 9X5 loaf pan with parchment paper and keep aside
- Mash the bananas and keep aside
- Mix the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy
- Add in the eggs one by one while continuing to mix with a hand mixer
- Add the yoghurt, vanilla essence and bananas and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, whisk all the dru ingreidents to mix them evenly and then add it in batches to the wet ingredients.
- Fold in the chocolate and date chunks
- Bake for 1 h, might take longer depending on shape and depth of your pan.
- When a toothpick inserted into the centre, comes out lean and the oven smells heavenly, the bread is ready.
Here are 5 tips to make the best soft and moist banana bread:
1. Use Overripe Bananas
- The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. Overripe bananas (with brown spots) are softer and release more moisture, resulting in a naturally moist banana bread.
2. Add Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
- Incorporating Greek yogurt or sour cream into your batter adds both moisture and tenderness. These ingredients help to create a soft texture and balance the sweetness with a subtle tang.
3. Don’t Overmix the Batter
- When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until everything is combined. Overmixing can lead to dense, dry bread. A few lumps in the batter are perfectly fine.
4. Use a Combination of Butter and Oil
- A mix of butter (for flavor) and vegetable oil (for moisture) results in a moist loaf that’s both tender and flavorful. The oil keeps the bread moist for a longer period, while butter contributes to a rich taste.
5. Avoid Overbaking
- Overbaking can dry out your banana bread. Start checking for doneness about 5 minutes before the suggested baking time by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, the bread is done. Keep an eye on the loaf during the last stages of baking to prevent overcooking.
By following these tips, you’ll end up with a banana bread that’s irresistibly soft, moist, and full of flavor!
Looking for other goodies to bake? Here are some ideas:
- Rum and raisin brownies https://theflavorseeker.com/?p=540
- Mini loaves with pistachios and rose cream https://theflavorseeker.com/?p=341
For more recipes, follow the flavor seeker on Instagram
