Buttermilk Banana Bread

We're not exaggerating when we say that this recipe for buttermilk banana bread is the best ever! It's a simple recipe with no fancy ingredients, but it has that classic moist texture and sweet banana flavor we all know and love.

The buttermilk really takes this banana to the next level, so we don't recommend using plain milk. The acidity in buttermilk actually helps break down the gluten which results in a lighter, fluffier, more tender texture. If you don't have any on hand, it's easy to make buttermilk at home using lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, or you can substitute it for kefir, or thinned-out yogurt or sour cream.

Spotty bananas are another key ingredient. They're sweeter, have more aroma, and mash easily to incorporate into the batter. When they start to look overripe, it's time to make banana bread!

Enjoy a slice of buttermilk banana bread anytime with a simple spread of butter (like our homemade butter) and a cup of tea or coffee. Make a second loaf and share it with friends, or freeze it for those moments when only a slice of freshly baked banana bread will do!

Buttermilk banana bread ingredients

This buttermilk banana bread is made with simple ingredients you're likely to have on hand already. Here's everything you need to make it:

• Flour – we use regular, all-purpose flour. But you can use a gluten-free flour blend if needed.
• Baking soda + Salt
• Bananas – save your spotty bananas for this recipe! Instead of throwing out overripe bananas, we freeze them, then thaw them in the oven while we're getting out our banana bread ingredients.
• Eggs – if you have time to bring your eggs to room temperature eggs, it does help in the baking process. They blend more evenly into the batter, and it helps the dough rise more easily.
• Buttermilk – you can buy buttermilk or make your own by adding lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to regular milk.
• Granulated sugar and brown sugar – a mix of both granulated sugar and brown sugar gives this loaf great texture and just the right amount of sweetness.
• Butter – real butter gives this loaf a rich taste and helps keep it nice and moist.
• Vanilla extract

How to make banana bread with buttermilk

This basic buttermilk banana bread recipe is the perfect anytime treat that pairs perfectly with tea, coffee, or a glass of milk. Here's how we make it in a few easy steps:

1. While your oven preheats, butter your loaf pan and whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. In a separate large bowl, mash the bananas and then whisk in the eggs, followed by the buttermilk, sugars, melted butter, and vanilla.
3. Now you know the drill. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet until they're just combined (without over-mixing).
4. Pour the batter into your loaf pan and bake until it's golden. We know it will be hard, but allow the bread to cool on a cooling rack before slicing into it. If you have the patience to let it cool overnight, it will be even better.

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

How to make buttermilk

No buttermilk, no problem! Making buttermilk at home is really easy to do with some plain milk and an acid like fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. To make it, add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of buttermilk, stir it, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes until it starts to curdle.

FAQS

Buttermilk banana bread add-ins

Depending on how we're feeling, sometimes we like to keep this recipe simple and enjoy it as written. It really is the best banana bread recipe ever! Other times we like to jazz it up. Here are some of our favorite add-ins:

• Toasted nuts like walnuts or pecans
• Dark or milk chocolate chips
• Chopped dried fruit like dates
• Warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or cardamom