Easy One Bowl Banana Bread (No Bread Pan Required)

Inside: This easy, one bowl banana bread kicks the bread pan to the curb (because for the average baker, they’re the worst) and uses a parchment-lined square baking pan, instead. A delicious way to use those overripe bananas!

Banana bread is a staple in our house. After I make it, it’s gone in two days flat. 

I’ve searched a dozen times for more recipes for overripe bananas, but all the recipes are super long and complicated. Pumpkin banana muffins with streusel topping? By the time I get to the topping, I’m toast.

Speaking of long and complicated, as someone with ADHD, any recipe that requires too many steps goes right out the window. 

That’s why I adjusted one of my favorite banana bread recipes to eliminate unnecessary steps. 

With this recipe, I’m far more likely to actually make the banana bread…and not leave those already overripe lonely little bananas to rot on the kitchen counter. 

Easy One Bowl Banana Bread (No Bread Pan)

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Here are a few key adjustments I made to the original recipe from Creme de La Crumb:

1. Eliminate the browned butter step.
2. I sift the baking soda.
3. I use a square pan, not a bread pan.
4. I sprinkle chocolate chips on, instead of mixing.

Because I inevitably walk away from the cooking butter, the browned butter quickly became burned butter half the time. Buh-by browned butter.

I sift the baking soda because I made the recipe way too many times with my kids inevitably ending up with a baking soda clump in their slice, which made for one nasty bitter bite.

And finally, I never ever make cake-like breads (banana bread, chocolate zucchini bread, etc.) in a bread pan. It just never worked out well for me (burned outside, gooey undone middle combo, anyone?). So instead, it’s always an 8×8 square pan like THIS one lined with parchment paper for easy clean-up. 

Also, my kids love the chocolate chips, but my husband hates them. So I usually sprinkle chocolate chips on one half and leave the other side chocolate chip-free.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, ingredients include…

Overripe Bananas

Not so far gone that they belong in the trash can or are home to several fruit fly families.

Hence the simplified banana recipe because an easy one bowl recipe beats feeling guilty every morning while you look at those rotting bananas on the counter practically begging to be used.

The Usual Dry Baking Ingredients

You know, flour, baking soda, salt, white sugar. All the dry baking things.

Sour Cream

While you can substitute yogurt in a pinch, sour cream is better.

DIY Buttermilk

I fill up a ⅓ measuring cup almost all the way, and top it off with vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes and bam: buttermilk

Eggs

Back when I was still making it with browned butter, I forgot the eggs. Too many steps, too much executive functioning for the number of kids I have, ok?

It still turned out ok. But still, try not to forget the eggs.

Melted Butter

I simply melt it in the microwave in a pyrex container. And yes, I own a microwave. 

If you think microwaves are evil, I suppose you could melt it on the stove? But then we’re back to the problem of too many steps…

Vanilla

Because: vanilla rocks. Get it at Costco – it’s soooo much cheaper.

Optional Sprinkled Chocolate Chips

When you mix the chocolate chips into the batter, they inevitably sink to the bottom.

How do I know? Because this week, I mixed them in, and my husband wasn’t happy with the chocolate chips, so he literally sawed the top off to eat chocolate-chip free banana bread.

So if you like chocolate chips, sprinkle them on to avoid sinking. You’re welcome.

Sifted Powdered Sugar (Don’t Skip!)

Sprinkle powdered sugar on your slice before consuming. We have a small sifter with a lid like THIS one, and we use it all the time. I promise it will be so delicious!

You Might Also Like: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins (Not Easy, But Oh So Worth It)

One Bowl Square Pan Banana Bread Recipe

I hope you enjoy this banana bread as much as our family does! Fight fascism, and stay safe, friends.

Easy One Bowl Banana Bread

The easiest one bowl banana bread, made in a square pan lined with parchment paper for easy clean-up.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Equipment

• 1 Large Mixing Bowl
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• 1 Rubber Scraper
• 1 8×8 Square Metal Cake Pan
• 1 Sifter Jar (Optional…I Guess?)

Ingredients

  

• 3 Overripe Bananas
• 1 cup White Sugar
• 1 stick Melted Butter (1/2 Cup)
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 1/3 cup DIY Buttermilk (Milk +1 tbsp White Vinegar)
• 1/2 cup Sour Cream
• 2 Eggs
• 1 3/4 cup White Flour
• 1 tsp Sifted Baking Soda (unsifted clumps lead to the occasional bitter bite – yuck)
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/2 cup Chocolate Chips (Or None)
• Sifted Powdered Sugar (for After Baking)

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line square pan with parchment paper. Spray parchment-lined pan with cooking spray and set aside. Make DIY buttermilk in measuring cup or bowl and set aside.
• Mash bananas in large mixing bowl with the back of a fork. Add sugar and all wet ingredients. Mix well.
• Add white flour, sifted baking soda and salt to the bowl. Mix just until all dry ingredients are incorporated. Do not over mix.
• Pour batter into parchment lined pan. If using chocolate chips, sprinkle on as desired (leave half free of chocolate chips if you like).
• Bake for 50-55 minutes in preheated 325 degree oven. Test with toothpick at 50 minutes. When toothpick comes up batter free, it's done.
• Let cool if you like, cut into squares, sprinkle powdered sugar onto indviidual slices and enjoy!

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