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Banana Bread Mini Loaves
Of all the quick breads in the world, I don’t know that there is one more universally pleasing than banana bread. The smell of a loaf of banana bread baking engenders the happiest soul-soothing feelings.
And many banana bread and muffin recipes are similar. Hell, many are the same. But that’s quite all right.
Basic Banana Bread
Because you may tweak the proportions a bit, but with some eggs, sugar, flour, and fat in the form of butter or ghee or oil, or dairy (or more than one of the above), and a group of over-ripe bananas, you are going to end up with something well worth the small amount of effort involved, and that will endear you to friends and family, all around.
If I can think of something more guaranteed to be worth your while than a muffin or a quick bread, I will let you know.
Mini Banana Breads
So when I found the world’s most adorable mini loaf pan at the flea market I go to almost every Sunday during the summer, 8 2 x 4-inch loaves all nestled into one single baking tray, I did not even think to negotiate the $2 price tag. I grabbed, and I ran. So now I get to make 8 recipients happy for the price of one recipe. (You can also find a similar loaf pan on Amazon.)
Disposable Mini Loaf Pans
There are also quite a nice array of little paper mini-loaf (and muffin/cupcake) pans available. If you don’t have one of these pans, you can still make the little guys easily, using these disposable mini loaf pans. I like this brand a lot. Do give them a spray with nonstick spray or if you’re feeling industrious a light swipe of softened butter.
You’ll be filling the little loaf tins quite full, and then you will get that pretty browned crown.
Each mini is about the size of two muffins, so you can share with a friend, or you can decide that you deserve two muffins in the form of a mini banana bread loaf. Serve them up with butter or jam or any preserves that you like .
If you can have at least one still warm from the oven, plan to make that happen.
The Cutest Mini Banana Bread Loaves: Cute as a button and perfect for sharing, great for stashing in the freezer. Also a great holiday gift.
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Gifting Banana Bread
Wondering who to give these to? Here’s a list of possible recipients. Or bring them to a work, a PTA meeting, your kids’ soccer game, or your book club. Wrap them in plastic wrap, or parchment paper, and tie them with a pretty ribbon if you want to make them extra gifty.
Some people may see browning bananas. I see a mini banana bread loaves about to be born. (Geez, what a dork.)
Other Banana Recipes:
- Banana Bread with Chocolate and Crystallized Ginger
- Banana Bread Pudding
- Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chocolate Banana Cake
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Mini Banana Bread Loaves
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 super ripe bananas
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F, and lightly and oil 8 (2×4-inch) mini loaf pans.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Place the bananas in another large bowl and mash them well with a whisk or a potato masher or a fork. Add the brown and granulated sugars and the melted butter and beat with an electric mixer or a whisk until well blended (there will be little bits of banana that don’t get perfectly smooth). Beat in the eggs one at a time, and then beat in the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients, switch to a spoon, and stir just until the flour is incorporated.
- Spoon the mixture evenly into the tins (they will be fairly full), and bake until a wooden skewer inserted into the middle of the mini loaves comes out clean, about 25 to 28 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes in the tins on a wire rack, then turn the little loaves out onto the rack to finish cooling. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Disposable Mini Loaf Pans
There are also quite a nice array of little paper mini-loaf (and muffin/cupcake) pans available. If you don’t have one of these pans, you can still make the little guys easily, using these disposable mini loaf pans. I like this brand a lot. Do give them a spray with nonstick spray or if you’re feeling industrious a light swipe of softened butter. You’ll be filling the little loaf tins quite full, and then you will get that pretty browned crown.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How would you freeze them, any certain way to wrap them?
I would wrap each loaf in plastic wrap and then slide them into a freezer proof zipper top bag, label it, press out any excess air and then freeze the loaves for up to 4 months!
I have 5x 3/4 inch pans.How much batter do I put in the pans ? & how long do I cook them
I think you will be able to get about 5 of those size loaves, and I would bake them for 35 to 45 minutes, util a wooden toothpick or skewer comes out clean. the loaf pans should be filled pretty full, so if you only get 4, then stick with 4!
I have a question, what does the vanilla extract add to the banana bread. I’ve honestly never used vanilla so I’m curious how it changes the flavor.
it just provides a depth of flavor to the batter – it’s used in many baking recipes, from banana bread to chocolate brownies – you’ll definitely notice the difference!
I was very happy with this recent, it was easy and delicious
Great recipe that I made with my daughter this morning. Made these in a mini cupcake tray. My son ate two at a time! Will be making again soon. Thank you!
Could this recipe be baked in a 9×13 pan?
I’ve never tried it but it surely can – start checking it for doneness at 30 minutes!
Hi Katie, I’m going to try your Banana Bread recipe and I hope they come out right. I have the 8 mini loaves pan so I’m making some with nuts and some without nuts. A friend of mine gave me 40 bananas so I’m making a lot of loaves. Have a great rest of year.
that is a lot of mini loaves! your friends are about to be very lucky!
Can you use any banana bread recipe ?
yes, you could!
How do you package these for individual gifting? Just put them in clear cellophane bags? Need ideas.
yes, I usually put them in cellophane bags and tie them with a pretty ribbon! You can also use cellophane paper and tie them up with ribbon like a little gift.
Followed directions and measurements exactly, resulted in only 6 half-filled mini tins. Tastes delicious but will make 2 batches next time.
you may have larger mini loaves than the size called for in the recipe – they can vary!
I was the opposite. Have filled up 12 and still have more mixture! I’m sure my tin is pretty small. No complaints though… they will disappear in no time!
I absolutely love this recipe! I like making these all year. During the holidays I always roast pecans and I always add some to this recipe. I love gifting these almost as much as I love eating these!
These turned out perfectly and I ended up with exactly 8 mini loaves in my Le Creuset Pan. I had to slightly increase baking time. I used some cinnamon and then also substituted some of the brown sugar for treacle sugar. Thank you for a fantastic recipe- my kids gobbled them up while warm.
This recipe is fantastic. I used butter and flour to grease the pan and the loaves were beautiful and delicious. The only substitution I made was that I used dark muscovado sugar instead of brown to give it a warmer taste. I added a tsp. of cinnamon too. My family gobbled it up. Thank you for sharing!
This is the recipe I use most as friends love it as it do it’s moist full of flavour and light as well the only thing that sometimes happens is that some of them stick on the bottom even though I did oil well with spray could it be the spray I use the same tins all the time anyway someone said it could be that your mood was off not the pan any suggestions
This recipe makes too much batter for the pan.
I have GOT to proof read these comments. My phone and iPad re-spell words sometimes. The loaves WERE delicious, and MY hubby raved………
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I made these with over ripe bananas. I only used 1/2 cup granulated, and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar. They wet delicious. Mu husband raved about then. Will definitely make again. If you really want comments, butter them and serve as soon as you remove from pans.
Note: I had enough batter to make an additional two 3 x 5” mini loaves ( a little bigger than the other 8). Also I store them in mini zip loc bags from Hobby Lobby. They have several sizes.
I made this recipe twice now. The first time they came out perfect, all though the out side was a little sticky ( not sure why). I lined the mini pans with parchment paper for an easy clean up.
The second batch I made didn’t do so well. They fell instead of rising which made them overflow in the pans. They wete almost carmelizes on top and very sticky. I dont know what i did wrong.? The only thing I did different from the 1st batch was I used 2 frozen bananas and 1 fresh ripe banana. They taste fine, just not to appealing. Help.!!
Thanks Candy
I think it must have been that the frozen bananas ended up pretty wet when they were added to the batter (I have had this happen – frozen and defrosted super ripe bananas get pretty liquidy).
Can you freeze the batter before baking?
I have not tried it – but now I am curious! It’s funny – I freeze cookie dough often, but never think to freeze quick bread batter….if you try it let me know!
I just purchased an 8 mini loaf pan for my Christmas baking. I made these last night. What a wonderful recipe. They turn out fantastic. The only thing I did different was I lined the mini pans with parchment paper for an easier clean up.
Can this recipe be used with a regular size bread pan.?
absolutely! a 9×5 pan is fine, just bake for at least 40 minutes, checking with a wooden skewer – when it comes out clean, the bread is done!
These are the best! Made them several times and everyone loved them
Do you think they would be ok in muffin pans as well?
yes! bake for about 20 minutes!
My adaptation: i went the ghee route, added a bit of cinnamon, halved the sugar- did 1/2 brown 1/2 white and a squeeze of allulose. One less egg because I don’t like eggy taste and added two tablespoons of chia seeds. Like you said- we all tweak but what a delight emerged. Thank you for sharing this fantastic recipe to work off of!
SO Good! Recently bought a mini loaf pan (8 loaves)and this recipe was perfect! Easy, flavorful and moist! Will definitely be making this again, thank you!!!
Flavor is good but loaves were dry
This was one of the best banana bread recipes I have made (and I have made many). I added some semi-sweet chocolate chips because I always do.
What I especially loved was that the mini loaves made a really nice sugary crust everywhere. I think because of the larger than usual ratio of brown sugar the edges had a really great caramel taste.
My only issue was that since I was delivering them as gifts to friends, they did stick a bit to the pans so they weren’t quite a pretty as I would have liked.
Excellent banana bread, thank u!
I was in the mood to make some mini banana bread and decided to look for a recipe instead of using my normal one. This did not disappoint!! The texture and taste is all perfect, not even a smidge dry. I did throw in some chocolate chips and cinnamon to pair with my coffee. Thank you so much!
Great recipe! I really suck at baking but I was able to make something really decent with this! Bread tastes amazing! I put the batter into mini cake tins I had and made a good dozen. Cooked perfectly! Thank you
I made this recipe tonight exactly as directed. It came out perfect! So delicious, warm and soft inside and chewy crispy sweet on the outside. My husband and family loved it! Thank you for posting this amazing and easy to make treat!
Do these mini loaves need to be eaten right away?? I’d like to make them today (Sunday)and deliver them on Christmas Day (Friday)!! Will that work??
Thank you!!
If you do that I would freeze them as soon as they cool. You can either defrost them on the counter (fully wrapped) just before delivering OR deliver them frozen and let the recipients know that they will be ready to eat in a few hours!
The kids and I made this tonight in our mini loaf pan. Soooooo good!! Finally found the perfect recipe
Thank you for posting this quick and easy recipe. Substituted Bob’s 1 to 1 gf flour, and added organic unsweetened chocolate chips. Also, topped each muffin with a mixture of chopped pecans, butter, and sugar (leftover from another recipe). Baked in a 12-cup muffin tin for 25 minutes. They were delicious! And they hold up pretty well warmed in the microwave. :-)
hello.. i am super excited to try this recipe… i have a boyfriend who loves banana bread YAY!! I don’t have the small mini pans but I do have the ones smaller then the large loaf pans.. some call them individual minis.. how many loaves would I be able to make out of this recipe? possibly 2 or 3? but I want to be sure before I attempt .. thank you in advance
It could be =two or three – just fill them halfway, or 2/3. And use a skewer to test for doneness; it should come out clean. Slightly larger but still small loaf pans will probably take another 5 to 10 minutes more than the mini minis, but just use your nose and your eyes and a wooden skewer!
Hi, Katie. You mentioned disposable mini loaf pans. I know that there are cardboard mini loaf pans, as well as foil mini loaf pans. Sorry for the dumb question, but can we bake using those?
Or are those disposable cardboard/foil mini loaf pans to be used for after — when we remove the baked mini loaves and put them in the disposable mini loaf pans?
Thank you.
you can bake in any disposable mini loaf pans – the cardboard ones are treated so that they can withstand the heat of the oven (and the packaging should indicate as such!) – no dumb questions!
Just wondering if the nutrition info was per mini loaf or per half loaf.
Thanks!
half a loaf!
They are delicious! Best banana bread I have tried!
Best banana bread recipe I’ve tried! I’ve been looking for the perfect recipe for quite awhile. My husband and father in law are my taste testers, and said this is it. I did sub butter for coconut oil and did 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar.
These were very popular during teacher appreciation week! Also fantastic for the annual PTO Boo Hoo breakfast
I need to hear what the PTO Boo Hoo breakfast is!
Loved them. If they do turn out mushy inside, perhaps too much banana was used.
These are fantastic! I ended up getting 10 (full) mini loaves both times I’ve made them. They don’t last long and requests for more are immediate. Thanks for a great recipe.
These browned way too fast and the inside was mush. Next time I’ll cook at a lower temperature for longer.
That is very surprising to hear. Definitely check your oven temp with an oven thermometer?!
I just made some mini loaves and muffins, Very moist and delicious! My mailman liked them too! Thank you
they are perfect for sharing!
Don’t tell my Mom, but this recipe is better than hers! Soooo perfect. I will never use another banana bread recipe again…thank you for sharing!! ☺️
so happy to hear, and your secret is safe with me!
I did not get 8 loaves
It so depends on the size of your loaf pan!
I love baking and this was a great recipe. Thanks for sharing. I doubled the recipe and made mini loaves. I only had to adjust the baking time.
wonderful!
I thought the recipe was for mini loaves.Then it tells you to grease 8 (2×4) muffin pans, not loave pans. Your recipe says beat in butter instead of bananas. Then beat in butter. Your recipe needs to be adjusted.
huge apologies for those errors. fixed now.
I been looking for a mini loaf banana bread recipe. Just tried this one but I added one more banana and it came out perfect very moist but my cooking time took about 35 minutes. I think the one in the pan I have is slightly deeper.
I guess it varies on the oven in the type of pans you’re using.
Yes it always varies depending on pans and ovens!
Thank you, thank you, thank! Now I have to run and get them out of the oven! Exactly what I was looking for! You are now my Queen of baking!
love it!!
I inherited a single mini-loaf pan from my mother, exactly like the one you have pictured here, and used it for about two decades. In the last couple years, my mini loaves have become quite popular among family and friends, so I’ve had to crank up production, especially during the holidays. I finally let go of the old eight-cavity pan and picked up four new 6-cavity pans. Two fit nicely in the oven, so I can bake a dozen at a time. When it comes to quick-breads, I’m not at all committed to a specific recipe. I’ll just search for banana bread, scroll for a bit, and choose one at random. This time, it was yours. You’re right, many are the same. Some throw a couple curve balls in there. Whether it comes out dense and moist, or light and fluffy, I’m always delighted with the results. Some folks are very particular about texture, but not me. I’ve never met a banana bread, or any other quick-bread, I didn’t like. This is why I’ve grown to become kind of a chubby old dude. That’s okay though. Totally worth it. Studies have shown that no matter how strict your lifestyle choices are, you’re still going to die one day. ;)
Ha! That’s all very true!
hi everyone – need alittle help – i found mini decorative loaf pans at the christmas tree shop – they are 4 1/2 to 5″ long – 3″ wide and 2 to 2 1/2 ” deep. do you think 1/2 cup of batter would work for a nice size loaf banana bread. thank you all
I would say fill it 3/4 full, however much that is, and you should be good!
Dear Katie, I love you banana bread recipe. I add pacans to it and banana extract for more banana flavor my question is why does my Mini pans sticked i use butter spray on my pans every time I baked. I love my pans but I hate the sticking? Please help L can only use one hand so cooking takes me longer I am also in wheelchair but don’t let that stop me.
Well, that’s inspiring! I have no idea why some pans are just stickier than others — it’s annoying, but I just give them a big extra spray, or if I want to be super sure I use a nice amount of butter (and if you really want to be sure, butter and flour them – maybe get a friend to help, and promise them a loaf of your beautiful bread!)
I make up a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle that in on the bottom and on the top of the banana nut before before baking.
sounds delicious!
Just made a batch got my second batch in now hands down the best banana bread EVER! Looking forward too making cinnamon,pumpkin,apple cinnamon loaves in my new mini loaf pan love having healthy snacks or quick breakfast on hand for my family! I made choloate marbled loaves so far.I have one with cinnamon nutmeg with pecans in right now! Happy baking! :)
aren’t they the best? quick breads plus single serve (kind of) cuteness.
Could I use a muffin tin for this recipe? Do you think the cooking time should be altered? I can’t wait to try it!
Hey there – I would say probably 16-20 minutes for muffins, depending on the size of your muffin tins. Let me know what you think!
L♥️VE your easy recipe ! I moved to and I had send my kitchen baking pans and I have the Martha Stuart 8 loaf !
Love it and share my bread all the time since I have lots of bananas trees in my backyard ! Gracias
lucky you!!
I purchased one of these pans only it makes 18 loaves. I have been trying my new purchase out and I am finding to difficult. The bottoms are black and the tops are not all the way baked. Help! I have reduced cooking time to 8-10 minutes and the loaves are not baking completely. Suggestions. I am making breads that have cake batter and pudding in them.
is the pan a very dark metal? If it is, maybe try lining the bottoms of the loaves with parchment paper (a pain in the ass but ….). Also bake it in the upper third of the oven?
I just bought two of these little loaf pans one for my daughter & one for myself I got mine from William Sonoma’s,I had looked for these prior to buying these &couldn’t find them soooooo when I saw them at WS I got themexpensive I love making Banana Bread for my neighbors during the holidays. Thanks for the great recipe
Thank YOU, Mickey! So glad you like the recipe.
oh i want to make these.got to pick me up some of these pans. thanks for the recipe.
seriously they are a lot of fun!
I’m wondering why you have kosher or coarse salt.
I just like the way it seasons – table salt or iodized salt is finer, and makes things taste salty to me, rather than bringing up the flavors of the other ingredients. You can use table salt, just cut the amount in half, as the grains are so much finer.
This recipe is my go-to recipe for sure. It’s classic, delicious and everyone loves it.
I am always looking for ways to be organized in the kitchen, save some money and nourish their bodies. Keeping a heating day once seven days keep my kids healthy and happy and I totally organized and on top of things. Yay me! With this classic banana bread, you can’t go wrong. I not only make loaves, but I also make muffins and bars with this batter. The best part about muffins is that you can bake up as many as you like and freeze them in a large freezer zip lock bag and pull out for breakfast, lunches or snacks as needed. It’s perfect!!
a loaf of banana bread (or banana muffins) in the freezer is a wonderful way to achieve inner peace!
I adore banana bread! But on a diet so could I use some applesauce for some butter?
give it a shot, it should be fine!
I have a flexible loaf pan for 12 2″x3″ loaves. What adjustments would you make to the recipe?
I think the amount of batter should be pretty ok, but I would start seeing if they were done baking at around 16 minutes.
After searching all week for a banana bread recipe, I came across yours and so glad I did. I made these this morning and they were delicious. I added chocolate chips to my husband’s batch and he loved it! Best banana bread ever!
so glad!!
Would the addition of chopped nuts call for any change in the recipe?
nope, go right ahead and add 1/2 cup!
I bought 2 of my mini loaf pans last yr And i get to break them in this year. Thank you for having the recipe for these minis….I was wondering if I had to make the batter the same as the regular ones til I found ur recipe.
Kate….can I use self rising flour in the place of all purpose….soda and salt?
I have not tested it that way, but I’m betting it will work!
I found one of these pans in Walmart’s seasonal aisle. I think it was about $6 though. It’s in a festive color, so I guess that’s why it cost more.
Thank you for sharing the baking time, 20-25 minutes! We have a bake sale fundraiser coming up for my son’s Teen Library Council on 10-21. The organizer said, ‘No icing, all individually wrapped.’ I’m making little pumpkin breads in festive sandwich baggies from Dollar Tree. There’s a cute story to go with this:
Originally, I had decided that I would not get involved with our TLC because one of the leaders rudely scolded me for not moving fast enough while volunteering and then again for giving a tot a $1 consolation prize that they didn’t win. You’d have thought I stole something by the way she acted. I feel like she has it out for me and I avoid her as much as I can. Anyway, I’ve been looking for a mini-loaf pan for quite some time. When I finally found it, I started counting my blessings. That’s when it hit me – why am I punishing kids for a crotchety old woman’s behavior? I’m not about to let a broken person break me! I’m actually glad I didn’t grab the pan the first time I saw it because then I’d still be stewing over that bitter old lady. Now that I have the mini-loaf pan, it makes a lot more sense to do what will make me feel better anyway.
yes, why should we live our lives in resistance to someone else’s bad behavior!
I made 8 of thes today and added mini chocolate chips! So easy and I actually did it by hand!
Love these banana bread recipes. Nice!
Nice!
Hi just made the fabulous banana mini loaves, thank you, but how can I package them prettily to bring as a gift?
They sell nice clear small bags in party stores and online, and you can just slide the breads into bags, and tie them with a pretty ribbon. You could also wrap them in parchment paper like a present, and tie those with twine or other string.
I have the same pan. I think I got mine at Wal-Mart for way more than $2. LOL At work they give me the leftover ripe bananas that no one wants to eat and I make banana bread/muffins and bring them back to work. The only thing I added to your recipe was 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg.
I know – I got lucky with this flea market find!!
I would Enjoy a mini banana bread loaf. I am having sister week and I’m making your recipe. I have six sisters and no brothers. We are all grown and have a blast – be crazy, silly and lasting memories.
Thank you
Celebrate life daily with no regrets. ( my Sophia hileman)
I’m a stage three breast cancer survivor. It’s been four years.
A friend gave me a single ripe banana and challenged me to make banana bread. I looked and looked for a recipe that could easily use one banana. I found yours and it was perfect – easily divisible by 3. Made 2 beautiful mini loaves. You would not believe how many compliments I received! Will definitely be making this again! Thank you for sharing.
Made your butterscotch brownies tonight for my mom. They are the best. Now I must try your banana bread. Mom just gave me all of her bread ready bananas. Yay!!!
go, Delia!
Can I be your friend. Cute pan! I would have bought it too — even with the $2 price. Ha.
Love banana bread.
Just copied. I even have a folder on my computer of banana bread recipes. Since I think chocolate is always good — just made an old cooking light recipe for a marbled banana bread, but love the plain ones too.
Any banana bread lover is a friend of mine!
Any banana bread is a friend of mine, too!