The 16 Best Banana Bread Recipes To Bake and Share

Overripe bananas fulfill their destiny in these 16 banana bread recipes that include vegan, gluten-free, dulce de leche, and cream cheese options, plus the one that's our top recipe of all time!

Overhead view of a slice of banana bread on a plate. — Kelly Hamilton

Confession. I let my bananas get overripe on purpose. And sometimes, I buy the overripe ones at the grocery store. Why? I need all those overripe bananas because I make smoothies almost daily.

Overripe bananas are a culinary treasure. When the peels get brown and the fruit inside is no longer pleasant to pop in your mouth and eat as-is, bananas take on a new role—an ingredient. I freeze my bananas whole with the peels still on and pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to defrost them just enough to make them easy to peel.

Overripe bananas are great in pancakes, muffins, cookies, and banana daiquiris. But I believe the ultimate wish of every brown banana is to become part of one specific food: banana bread. Fortunately for the overripe bananas on your counter or in your freezer, we have plenty of recipes to bake up to help them reach their destiny.

1. Banana Bread

Easy banana bread cut into thick slices. — Kelly Hamilton

This classic banana bread is moist, delicious, and the most popular recipe on Simply Recipes ever. It has over 2,350 five-star ratings. The secret to making banana bread that EVERYBODY loves? Melted butter.

2. Spiced Dulce de Leche Banana Bread

Spiced Dulce de Leche Banana Bread (Some of It Sliced) on a Platter, and in the Surroundings, a Bowl With More Dulce de Leche and Bananas — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Adding dulce de leche (caramelized milk) to the mix of ingredients results in the perfect combination of sweetness, complexity, and moistness in this banana bread. Maximize the goodness by adding an optional dulce de leche drizzle. Yum!

3. Chocolate Banana Bread

Cocoa powder and chocolate chips make this banana bread doubly chocolatey and doubly good. It's rich and tender and will satisfy anyone's chocolate cravings.

4. Dark and Stormy Banana Bread

Loaf of Dark and Stormy Banana Bread With Some of It Cut Into Slices — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Inspired by the dark and stormy cocktail, this delicious banana bread is spiked with dark rum and has both fresh and ground ginger in it, with an optional candied ginger topping. It's a creative twist on banana bread that really works, especially if you love ginger.

5. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Coffee Cake

On a Platter, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cake Showcasing a Cross Section Cut, a Knife, and a Tea Cup — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Is this banana bread or coffee cake in loaf form? Does it matter? Just call it delicious! This recipe takes the classic banana bread formula and adds a cinnamon-cocoa ripple, crunchy streusel topping, and chocolate chips.

6. Banana Bread Chocolate Chunk Mug Cake

Mug of Banana Bread Chocolate Chunk Mug Cake Topped with a Dollop of Ice Cream and Spoonful of Cake Resting on Top of the Mug — Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

When you're craving banana bread and you want it NOW, you'll be happy to have this mug cake recipe at the ready. It uses just 1 overripe banana for a single-serving treat that's ready in just 5 minutes from start to finish.

7. Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Overhead view of a loaf of banana bread with cream cheese on a plate. Three slices are laying in front of the loaf. — Claudia Cash

Big bold swirls of cream cheese filling run through this banana bread. The creamy texture of the cream cheese mixture complements the banana bread, a depth of flavor that is irresistible.

8. Brownie Banana Bread

On a Wooden Board, Loaf of Brownie Banana Bread with Slices Cut Off, and Next to It, a Plate with a Slice and a Knife — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

You can mix plenty of goodies in banana bread batter, but have you ever considered mixing in chunks of brownie? Start by baking our best chocolate brownies, chilling them so they create perfect cut cubes, and then adding them to a classic banana bread recipe. Genius!

9. Banana Pecan Bread With Caramelized White Chocolate Sorghum Glaze

Sliced Banana Pecan Bread With Caramelized White Chocolate Sorghum Glaze on a Platter — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

There are lots of complex flavors in this Southern-inspired banana bread. Sorghum, pecans, and caramelized white chocolate elevate the sweet banana-ness of this moist loaf. Bonus: You'll end up with extra sorghum glaze that you can use on ice cream or as a fruit dip.

10. Rum Raisin Banana Bread

sliced banana bread with rum soaked raisins on a white board — Kalisa Marie Martin

There are plump, rum-soaked raisins in every bite of this Jamaican-inspired banana bread that's spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. If you don't want any alcohol in your bread, soak your raisins in water or juice (such as pineapple juice) instead.

11. Whole Banana Bread

Slice of banana bread with butter on a dark blue plate — Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Banana peels are edible, and this recipe doesn't let the nutritious peels go to waste. Use the most overripe bananas you have for this recipe so the peels are at their softest, and purée the whole bananas—peels and all—to use in this recipe. We recommend using organic bananas to make sure you aren't getting all the pesticides that remain on banana peels.

12. Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Side shot of sliced almond flour banana bread. — Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

Using almond flour makes this banana bread gluten-free. It also gives it a nutty flavor that plays nice with bananas and chocolate chips. The recipe works well for banana nut bread, too, if you swap out the chocolate chips for 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans.

13. Gluten-Free Banana Bread

Overhead view of simple gluten-free banana bread on a platter and sliced into thick slices. — Kalisa Marie Martin

This gluten-free banana bread may be just as good, or possibly even better, than a gluten-filled version. Aside from the gluten-free flour, this is a timeless banana bread recipe to make as-is, or add some mix-ins such as chocolate chips or nuts.

14. Coffee Coconut Banana Bread Cake

Coffee Coconut Banana Bread Cake on a Cake Platter With a Cut Slice Lifted Using a Pie Server — Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

This is our classic banana bread remixed into a cake with the bewitching addition of espresso, plus a glorious crown of espresso cream cheese frosting. Small but mighty, it's prefect for baking on a whim.

15. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Peanut butter. Chocolate. Bananas. Three foods loved by kids and adults alike. When combined, they make what might be the ultimate non-traditional banana bread.

16. Vegan Banana Bread

Easy Vegan Banana Bread Recipe — Erin Alderson

Swap out the butter for oil and the egg for a flax egg, and you have vegan banana bread. Mix in optional vegan-friendly options such as toasted chopped nuts, carob chips, or vegan chocolate chips.