This Banana Bread recipe with Peanut Butter Glaze is one of the best! Not only is this one of the easiest banana breads to make, but it’s topped off with the best glaze for banana bread as well. That salted peanut butter flavor makes the cake! Your family will crave and request this time and time again. Banana and peanut butter is the best flavor combo!
Best Banana Bread Recipe
This Easy Banana Bread is a must-make whether you’re new to baking or an old pro!
What makes this the best?
- This recipe is truly one of the easiest bread recipes I’ve made. Even if you’re new to baking, you can follow this recipe.
- The peanut butter glaze goes perfectly on top of the banana bread.
- It’s moist, soft, flavorful, and just soooo delicious. What could be better than that?
You can also make this recipe without the glaze if you don’t like or can’t eat peanut butter. It’s still super tasty and I think it just looks so beautiful to serve at breakfast or for dessert.
How to Make Banana Bread
This easy banana bread recipe is so simple. Be sure to check the recipe card below to get all of the ingredients, instructions, and notes! And watch the video to see the step-by-step recipe in action.
Ingredients
- Bananas — get RIPE bananas. I’ve added a note below about finding the best bananas for this recipe.
- Eggs — use large eggs and let them sit to room temp before baking.
- Dark Brown Sugar — this gives it the perfectly rich flavor and texture.
- Self-Rising Flour — this flour already has salt and baking powder mixed in, so do not substitute all-purpose flour for this recipe.
- Vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt create the right flavor.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Use parchment paper to line the bread pan. This will help you to easily lift the banana bread out after baking.
- Use a fork or potato masher to mash up the bananas in a bowl.
- Stick a toothpick into the middle of the bread while baking to check for when it’s done. The toothpick should come out clean.
- Let the bread rest for 5-10 minutes before removing it from the pan. Then drizzle with glaze.
- You can serve this bread hot or cold, with or without the peanut butter glaze.
- If you don’t have self-rising flour, you can make your own. Combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour with 1½ teaspoons of baking powder and ½ teaspoon of salt. Make sure it’s well-mixed.
Peanut Butter Glaze (The Perfect Banana Bread Glaze)
This Peanut Butter Glaze is the stuff of legend. Just try to not eat it with a spoon–actually, no I encourage you to eat the extra with a spoon!
Now that we’ve discussed the bread, let’s talk about that glaze for the banana bread. It’s a similar texture to icing, but thin enough to be a glaze. I am IN LOVE with this peanut butter banana bread combo. There’s something about peanut butter and bananas that are a match made in heaven.
The glaze is a mixture of peanut butter, milk, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and just a bit of sea salt to balance it out.
All you have to do is combine ingredients and mix, then generously slather or pour it over the bread.
Variations
Feel free to make some changes to this recipe if needed. Here are some ideas:
- Skip the peanut butter glaze if your family is allergic and just serve the bread. It’s plenty delicious without it.
- Add chocolate chips into the bread batter before baking!
- Try another type of glaze, like lemon glaze or coffee glaze.
Do you have to use ripe bananas for banana bread?
The best bananas to use for this recipe are very ripe or over-ripe bananas. Look for the ones with lots of dark brown spots. The riper the better!
Ripe bananas are easier to mash (and therefore easier to quickly incorporate into a smooth batter), sweeter, and smell stronger.
This is the perfect time to use up those bananas that you might not want to eat for breakfast.
Why is my banana bread sinking in the middle?
Usually, bread recipes can rise too quickly and then sink in the middle if you’re using too much baking powder. This is why baking is more of an exact science than cooking. Follow the recipe as closely as possible to avoid mishaps like this. The self-rising flour in this recipe helps with this problem.
How to Store Banana Bread
When properly stored in an airtight container, this easy banana bread recipe should last 1-2 days on your counter, or up to 1 week in the fridge. You can also freeze it without the glaze. To freeze, double wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.
Now go and make this Easy Banana Bread Recipe just to prove how simple it is, and don’t forget that delicious peanut butter glaze.
Be sure to try some of our other favorite bread recipe and banana desserts:
- Cheesecake Stuffed Apple Bread
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
- Brown Sugar Pound Cake
- Peanut Butter Cup Pound Cake
- Best Banana Cake Recipe
- Brown Butter Banana Bread
- Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Easy Banana Bread with Peanut Butter Glaze
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Ingredients
For the Bread
- 4 bananas 341 grams (1½ cups mashed)
- ½ cup canola oil 100 grams
- 3 large eggs 150 grams, room temperature
- 1½ cups dark brown sugar 320 grams
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- 1½ cups self-rising flour 170 grams (SEE NOTE)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 grams
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For the Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar 57 grams
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 34 grams, Jif recommended
- 2 tablespoons milk 28 grams
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 grams
- ¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
For the Bread
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and cut a piece of parchment the length of the pan and 4 inches wider than the pan's width (it should stick up 2 inches over each side of the pan, when placed inside the pan). Place the paper in the pan and spray it. Once the bread is baked, the paper will be used like a sling to lift the bread out of the pan.
- Place the bananas in a large bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher. Add the oil, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla. Mix well to blend.4 bananas, ½ cup canola oil, 3 large eggs, 1½ cups dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- In another small bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture. Mix just until flour is incorporated.1½ cups self-rising flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the bread.
- Place the pan on a cooling rack and let the bread rest for 5 minutes before removing it from the pan. Let cool completely.
For the Glaze
- In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, peanut butter, milk, vanilla and sea salt. Whisk until smooth. Once the bread has cooled completely, pour the glaze over top.2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons milk, ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt, ½ cup powdered sugar
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Flour: If you don't have self-rising flour, you can make your own. Combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour with 1½ teaspoons of baking powder and ½ teaspoon of salt. Make sure it's well-mixed.
- Use parchment paper to line the bread pan. This will help you to easily lift the banana bread out after baking.
- Use a fork or potato masher to mash up the bananas in a bowl.
- Add chocolate chips into the bread batter before baking!
- Stick a toothpick into the middle of the bread while baking to check for when it's done. The toothpick should come out clean.
- Let the bread rest for 5-10 minutes before removing it from the pan. Then drizzle with glaze.
- You can serve this bread hot or cold, with or without the peanut butter glaze.
- Try another type of glaze, like lemon glaze or coffee glaze.
Nutrition Information
I have to say, I tried this peanut butter glaze and wow it is DELICIOUS! The sea salt really adds so much to the flavor profile, don’t skip out on it. I like to add about a cup or less applesauce and mix it in with the mashed bananas to make the bread extra moist.
We’re so happy to hear you loved the glaze!
This was so good will do again
So happy to hear you loved it, Megan!
Can i use regular salt or no salt for the glaze
You can use 1/4 teaspoon of table salt in place of the kosher salt!
I have all purpose floor. Can I use this and add baking powder? Also, have normal Table Salt…Can I use this?
Absolutely!
I have All purpose flour. Can I use this with Baking powder. Thank you.
Yes! To make your own, all you have to do is combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour with 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt!
Thank you!
Nutrition facts? Are these for real? they look like a typo.
Hey Mary, I’m glad you said something. Those are correct but are for the entire loaf. I changed it to read for one thick slice (the loaf should yield about 12 thick slices). Hope that clears it up!