This post may contain affiliate links. See our Privacy Policy.
This one-egg banana bread is wonderfully simple, moist, and full of classic banana flavor. It’s a great way to use up ripe bananas, and the batter comes together quickly with pantry staples—just mix, pour, and bake.
Whether you prefer your banana bread plain or loaded with nuts, chocolate, or dried fruit, this recipe is endlessly adaptable. It bakes up with a tender crumb, a golden top, and that comforting homemade aroma everyone loves.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Simple ingredients. Just one egg, ripe bananas, butter, and pantry staples.
Moist and tender. Ripe bananas keep the loaf soft without extra fuss.
Customizable. Add nuts, chocolate chips, or dried fruit—or keep it plain.
Ingredient Notes
- Bananas: Use very ripe bananas for the best sweetness and flavor.
- Egg: One egg binds the batter and keeps it tender.
- Sugar: White or brown sugar works—brown sugar adds extra moisture.
- Butter: Melted butter adds rich flavor to the loaf.
- Flour: All-purpose flour keeps the texture soft and classic.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness.
- Baking soda: Provides lift and helps the loaf rise.
- Walnuts: Optional—add crunch or replace with chocolate or dried fruit.
Steps to Make One-Egg Banana Bread
- Preheat the oven and prepare the loaf pan.
- Mix the mashed bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter.
- Whisk the flour, salt, and baking soda in a separate bowl.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the banana mixture until just blended.
- Fold in nuts or other additions if using.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake until the loaf tests done with a few moist crumbs on a toothpick.
- Cool briefly in the pan, then finish cooling on a rack.
Tips for One-Egg Banana Bread
- Don’t overmix—the batter should look slightly lumpy to keep the loaf tender.
- Use extra-ripe bananas with brown spots for the best flavor.
- Check doneness early; ovens vary, and banana bread can dry out if overbaked.
- Let the loaf cool before slicing to prevent crumbling.
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate chip loaf. Fold in 1/2 to 3/4 cup chocolate chips.
- Dried fruit. Add raisins, cranberries, or chopped dates.
- Nut-free version. Simply omit nuts—no other changes needed.
- Cinnamon swirl. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon or swirl in a brown sugar–cinnamon mix.
- Coconut banana bread. Add shredded coconut for extra texture.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with butter or cream cheese.
- Pair with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
- Add peanut butter or Nutella for a sweet treat.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
How to Store Banana Bread
Room temperature: Wrap tightly and store for 2 to 3 days.
Refrigerate: Keeps up to 5 days; wrap well to prevent drying.
Freeze: Freeze whole or sliced for up to 3 months; wrap in plastic and foil.
Reheat: Warm slices briefly in the microwave or oven.
You might also like this moist peach bread.
One-Egg Banana Bread
Ingredients
- Butter and flour or baking spray, for the pan
- 3 large ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 cup granulated sugar, or brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 4 ounces melted butter, slightly cooled
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Grease and flour an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan.Butter and flour or baking spray
- In a mixing bowl with an electric mixer, combine the mashed bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter.3 large ripe bananas | 1 large egg | 1 cup granulated sugar | 4 ounces melted butter
- In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking soda; whisk to blend.1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour | 1 tsp salt | 1 tsp baking soda
- Stir the dry ingredients into the first mixture until just blended.
- Fold in chopped nuts, if using.3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf pan; spread evenly.
- Bake for 53 to 58 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs.
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
I love this recipe. I tried it when I had only 1 egg. It is so light, with 1/2 cup less flour than my 2 egg recipe, giving it a tastier banana flavor. I use bananas that are bright yellow, no green, when at the height of freshness and rich banana flavor.
It is a versatile recipe that I have made blueberry bread and cinnamon bread also as suggested.
I am so glad you liked it! Thanks for posting!