Mini Banana Bread Loaves
on Mar 29, 2019, Updated Apr 10, 2022
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8 adorable little loaves for the price of one recipe.
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.
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!