Learn to Make Banana Bread in a Bread Machine

Written by
Carroll Pellegrinelli
Expert baker and published author, Carroll Pellegrinelli shares her knowledge of bread baking and desserts.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Carroll Pellegrinelli
Updated 05/07/20
Banana Bread in a Bread Machine recipe
The Spruce
  • Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
  • Prep: 20 mins
  • Cook: 2 hrs
  • Yield: 1 loaf (12 servings)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
303 Calories
17g Fat
33g Carbs
7g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 loaf (12 servings)
Amount per serving
Calories 303
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 21%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Cholesterol 134mg 45%
Sodium 523mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 7g
Calcium 98mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Using a bread machine makes baking banana bread easier than ever. It's an excellent way to use up ripe bananas without turning on the oven, so your kitchen stays cool. The bread machine helps make soft, delicious banana bread and allows it to stay perfectly moist throughout the process.

Banana bread is a "quick bread" recipe, so you don't add yeast. Instead, baking powder and baking soda are used to cause a faster rise than required for yeasted bread. One key to successful banana bread is to make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature. Set out the eggs, butter, and milk ahead of time. Also, make sure the bread machine is ready to go before you start mixing. Once the wet and dry ingredients are combined in the pan, it needs to be mixed and baked right away.

All bread machines are different, so it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for making quick bread in the model you own. Many have a setting for quick bread, and some people use their machine's rapid bread program or manual settings. At the end of the cycle, you can always use a toothpick to check the doneness of your bread and bake it a little longer if it's not thoroughly baked.

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1/3 cup butter (room temperature)
  • 1/8 cup milk (room temperature)
  • 2 medium bananas (mashed)
  • 1 1/3 cups bread flour
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts (lightly toasted)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for the banana bread
    The Spruce

  2. Add eggs, butter, milk, and bananas to the bread pan and set aside.

    Adding ingredients to the bread machine pan
    The Spruce

  3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients.

    Mixing the dry ingredients in a bowl
    The Spruce

  4. Mix well and add to the bread pan.

    Adding dry ingredients to the bread machine pan
    The Spruce

  5. Use the setting for quick bread (or equivalent) for your machine. When it's done baking, remove the pan from the machine. Let the bread sit for about 10 minutes, then remove it from the pan and set the loaf on a wire rack to finish cooling.

    The finished banana bread in the bread machine pan
    The Spruce 

  6. Enjoy.

Tips

  • All-purpose flour can be used instead of bread flour. Your loaf may not have the same rise because bread flour contains more gluten.
  • Since the batter for quick bread doesn't require kneading and is best with minimal mixing, you may also need to adjust the mixing setting. This is especially true if your bread machine doesn't have a program for quick bread. For example, some machines have a "dough" setting to mix and a separate "bake" setting. Mixing should require just 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Test the bread by poking a wooden toothpick or thin skewer into the loaf. If it comes out clean, the bread is done. Bake for about another 10 minutes if batter sticks to the wood before checking it again.
  • When you discover the perfect settings and time that work for your bread machine, write them down so you can repeat it next time. It will likely work for other quick breads as well.

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