Janet's Rich Banana Bread

4.8
(10,561)

This moist banana bread is the best I've ever tasted. It's also very easy to make!

2,288
Sliced banana bread loaf on a marble surface.
2,288
2,288
2,288
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr
Additional Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 20 mins
Servings:
10
Yield:
1 9x5-inch loaf

Looking for a moist banana bread recipe that never fails? Your friends and family will ask for this never-dry banana bread again and again.  

How to Make Moist Banana Bread

You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Moist Banana Bread Ingredients

To make this perfectly moist banana bread, you’ll need the following ingredients that you may already have on hand: sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, sour cream, walnuts (optional), sour cream, and sour cream. 

What Makes This Banana Bread Moist? 

The secret to this melt-in-your-mouth banana bread? Sour cream. The eggs and butter (and the bananas themselves) lend moisture, but the rich and tangy sour cream takes the texture over the top. 

How to Make Moist Banana Bread At Home

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you made this homemade moist banana bread recipe: 

Make the batter, transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Related: With more than 10,000 ratings, Janet's Rich Banana Bread is one of our most popular banana bread recipes of all time — learn more: I Tried Our 5 Most Popular Banana Bread Recipes and There Was One Clear Winner.

close up of sliced Janet's rich banana bread with walnuts

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How to Store Moist Banana Bread

It’s important to store your leftover banana bread properly to ensure it stays moist. Here’s how: 

Place a paper towel at the bottom of an airtight container or in a zip-top bag. Place the cooled banana bread loaf on top of it, then cover the loaf with another paper towel. Seal the container tightly and store it at room temperature for about four days. You can freeze the banana bread for two to four months. 

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“I think this is quite possibly the best banana bread I've ever made and tasted,” raves amydonahue0223. “It has to be the addition of the sour cream that makes it so dense, moist, and delicious. It's the only one I'll make now.”

“This recipe is phenomenal as-is,” according to one Allrecipes community member. “I've been making it for years and it's the favorite at every party. It's what everyone always requests from me. I usually make 20+ loaves between Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

“This is the best banana bread recipe! It is super moist and is full of flavor,” says another community member. “The only thing I do differently is that I beat my bananas slightly before folding them into the batter rather than slicing them.”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 10 servings

  • 1 cup white sugar

  • ½ cup butter, melted

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ½ cup sour cream

  • ½ cup chopped walnuts

  • 2 medium bananas, sliced

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

    Ingredients for banana bread recipe arranged on countertop.

    ALLRECIPES / QI AI

  2. Stir sugar and melted butter together in a large bowl. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into butter mixture until smooth.

    Banana bread batter mixed in glass bowl.

    ALLRECIPES / QI AI

  3. Fold in banana slices, sour cream, and walnuts; transfer into the prepared pan.

    Banana bread batter ready in loaf pan.

    ALLRECIPES / QI AI

  4. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour.

    Testing banana bread doneness with toothpick.

    ALLRECIPES / QI AI

  5. Cool loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

    Freshly baked banana bread cooling on wire rack.

    ALLRECIPES / QI AI

  6. Serve and enjoy!

    Sliced banana bread loaf on a marble surface.

    ALLRECIPES / QI AI

23,175 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

291 Calories
16g Fat
36g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 10
Calories 291
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 16g 20%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 295mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Protein 3g 7%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 25mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 66mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.