4 ingredient banana bread without cake mix

This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread is so simple to make and perfect to share! A perfect way to use up those bananas that have been sitting on the counter!

Do you ever have those days where you are cleaning out your kitchen and you think "What am I to do with these brown, leftover bananas?" I know I do! I feel like I always have leftover bananas sitting around for some reason or another. The easiest way for me to use them up is to make banana bread, however sometimes I find that I don't have all the ingredients to make the bread on hand with me. Enter this 4 Ingredient Banana Bread! This banana bread is so easy to make and only has 4 ingredients. It is perfect for those days when I want to make something delicious but only have simple ingredients on hand.

For some other fun recipes, check out this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread without Baking Soda, or these Banana Carrot Muffins!

• What Makes This Recipe So Great?
• Ingredient Notes
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top tips
• Other Great Desserts to Try!
• 4 Ingredient Banana Bread
• FAQ
• Food safety

What Makes This Recipe So Great?

• This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread is a fun, family-friendly recipe!
• This sweet treat is the perfect shareable dessert for parties or events!
• This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread is dairy-free and vegan!
• This Banana Bread is perfect for breakfast on the go!

Ingredient Notes

• Bananas- For this recipe, you will want to use very ripe bananas. You know the kind, the ones that you question if they can make it another day or not. The longer a banana ripens, the sweeter it gets. Don't try and make this banana bread with green bananas!
• Flax Eggs- The flax eggs take the place of the regular eggs in this recipe. Check out how to make the flax eggs here.
• Vanilla Cake Mix- The secret ingredient in this recipe is boxed vanilla cake mix! If you didn't know, most boxed mixes are vegan already, however always check the label to make sure. I love using the Simple Mills brand. It is clean and free of all the processed stuff!

See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the flax eggs while the oven is preheating. Let the flax eggs sit for 10 minutes.
• Mash the bananas
• Add the melted vegan butter, mashed bananas and flax eggs. Whisk to combine.
• Stir in the cake mix until a thick batter forms

• Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan, and top with additional sliced banana for decoration, if you prefer.
• Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the knife comes out clean when inserted into the middle.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool, slice, serve and enjoy!

Hint: Don't overmix the batter or you will end up with a dense banana bread.

Substitutions

• Vanilla Cake Mix - If you prefer not to use a cake mix, you can swap it for 2 cups of self-rising flour and 1 cup of sugar.
• Vegan Butter - If you want to leave out the vegan butter, you can. The bananas will keep the bread moist.
• Flax Eggs -If you aren't vegan, you can swap the flax eggs for 3 regular eggs.

Variations

• Chocolate Chips - Feel free to add some chocolate chips to the banana bread to make a fun variation.
• Walnuts - For a crunchy bite, mix some walnuts into the batter!
• Peanut Butter - For a banana bread fit for the King, add 1 cup of peanut butter to the batter for a rich peanut butter banana taste!

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. See below for the equipment you will need to make this recipe.

• Glass Mixing Bowls
• Masher
• Spatula
• Loaf Pan

Storage

Store at room temperature covered with plastic wrap or sealed in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months. To freeze, wrap in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe bag.

Top tips

• If your bananas are not ripe enough yet, you can easily ripen them by baking them in the oven for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Set the bananas on a baking sheet, do not peel them. Bake for 30 minutes, let cool, peel, and mash as directed.
• To keep the banana bread from drying out, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it on the counter. This will help to keep the banana bread moist and delicious!
• You can also make banana bread muffins with this recipe. Instead of pouring the batter into a loaf pan, fill muffin tins ¾ of the way and bake for 25 minutes!

Other Great Desserts to Try!

• Red, White and Blue Pound Cake
• The Best Peach Cobbler Pound Cake
• Banana Pudding Lasagna
• Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake with Red Wine

kaydimaggio

This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread is so simple to make and perfect to share! A perfect way to use up those bananas that have been sitting on the counter!

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8 slices

Calories 403 kcal

• 1 glass mixing bowls

• 1 spatula

• 1 Masher

• 1 Loaf Pan

• 1 box Vanilla Cake Mix
• 4 large Bananas
• 3 Flax Eggs
• ½ cup Vegan Butter

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make the flax eggs while the oven is preheating. Let the flax eggs sit for 10 minutes.

• Mash the bananas

• Add the melted vegan butter, mashed bananas and flax eggs. Whisk to combine.

• Stir in the cake mix until a thick batter forms

• Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan, and top with additional sliced banana for decoration, if you prefer.

• Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the knife comes out clean when inserted into the middle.

• Transfer to a wire rack to cool, slice, serve and enjoy!

• If your bananas are not ripe enough yet, you can easily ripen them by baking them in the oven for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Set the bananas on a baking sheet, do not peel them. Bake for 30 minutes, let cool, peel, and mash as directed.
• To keep the banana bread from drying out, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it on the counter. This will help to keep the banana bread moist and delicious!
• You can also make banana bread muffins with this recipe. Instead of pouring the batter into a loaf pan, fill muffin tins ¾ of the way and bake for 25 minutes!

Calories: 403kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 4gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.3gSodium: 541mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 4gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 583IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 154mgIron: 2mg

Keyword breakfast, dessert

FAQ

Do you put egg in banana bread?

Yes, most banana bread recipes contain eggs, however I like to keep mine egg-free by using flax eggs.

Why is my banana bread not moist?

The key to making moist banana bread is the ratio of flour to banana. It makes all the difference. If you use too much flour, you'll end up with dry bread. If you don't use enough, your bread will be too wet.

Can bananas be too ripe for banana bread?

Yes, if the bananas are fully brown and wet, they have gone past their use-by date. You want to make sure the outer portion of the banana is dry but still brown for the perfect banana.

Food safety

• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.