Bread Machine Banana Bread

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
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Updated 04/08/21
Slices of banana bread made in a bread machine
The Spruce
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Yield: 1 loaf
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
241 Calories
11g Fat
33g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 241
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 35mg 12%
Sodium 192mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 2mg 11%
Calcium 52mg 4%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 143mg 3%
*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. The bread machine helps make soft, delicious banana bread and allows it to stay perfectly moist throughout the process. It's also an excellent way to use up ripe bananas without turning on the oven, perfect when you want homemade banana bread in the heat of summer.

Using the bread machine makes for an almost completely hands-off process with very little mess: almost everything gets mixed right in the pan you bake it in. But it's important to remember that all bread machines are different, so follow the manufacturer's instructions for the model you own in order to ensure success. 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. Many machines have a setting for quick bread; if not, you can use the machine's rapid bread program or manual settings. At the end of the cycle, use a toothpick to check the doneness of your bread and bake it a little longer if it's not done.

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs, room temperature

  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 2 tablespoons milk, room temperature

  • 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed

  • 1 1/3 cups bread flour

  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup lightly toasted chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for banana bread
    The Spruce

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

    Eggs, bananas, butter, and milk added to the bread machine pan
    The Spruce

  3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients (flour through salt).

    Dry ingredients in a bowl for banana bread
    The Spruce

  4. Mix well and add to the bread pan.

    Dry ingredients added to the bread machine pan
    The Spruce

  5. Use the setting for quick bread (or equivalent).

    Fnished banana bread in the bread machine pan
    The Spruce 

  6. 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.

Can You Use All-Purpose Flour in a Bread Machine Instead of Bread Flour?

You can swap the bread flour for all-purpose flour unless a recipe specifies otherwise. In this recipe, your bread may not have the same rise because bread flour has more gluten, but you can make the substitution and the recipe will still work.

Tips

  • Since the batter for quick bread doesn't require kneading and is best with minimal mixing, you may need to adjust the mixing setting on your machine. 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. If the batter sticks to the toothpick, bake the bread for another 10 minutes or so 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.

What Makes It a Quick Bread?

Banana bread is a quick bread recipe, which means you don't add yeast. Instead, baking powder and baking soda are the leavening agents used to cause a faster rise than required for yeasted bread.