When you want to make banana bread, it might seem easiest to turn to a simple banana bread recipe you found on the internet. But if you want to create the best banana bread recipe ever, you need to learn a few key things. Here are some tips that will help you make the best banana bread recipe in the world.

Use Ripe Bananas

Using ripe bananas in your banana bread is one of the most important components of the entire recipe. The riper your bananas are, the better! The reason behind letting your bananas ripen — and even over-ripen — is that they become much sweeter. An unripe banana doesn’t have much sweetness to it because it hasn’t had time to break down and release all of those good sugars into its flesh. If you want to make banana bread but your bananas aren’t quite ripe yet, you can put them in a paper bag for a few days or set them in the oven for about 15 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Moral of the story: make sure you’re using ripe bananas for your banana bread!

Experiment With Your Sweetener

While most banana bread recipes call for granulated white sugar, it’s not always the best sweetener for your recipe. In fact, there are countless easy recipe ideas for banana bread that use sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, and even coconut sugar as a substitute for white sugar. Using honey or maple syrup will still impart that delicious sweetness into your break, but it will help keep your loaf a little moister once it’s done cooking. If you’d like to try this method, simply replace every one cup of sugar with one-half cup of honey or maple syrup. You’ll be thankful you did!

Mix It Up!

The best recipes for banana bread are the ones with a little extra flair in them. Banana bread serves as an excellent base for a wide variety of additions. If you’re feeling adventurous with your banana bread, consider adding one of the following ingredients to your recipe.

  • Walnuts
  • Chocolate chips
  • Toffee pieces
  • Struesel topping
  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Citrus zest
  • Dried fruits
  • Espresso powder
  • Sunflower seeds

The possibilities are nearly endless with banana bread, so don’t be afraid to mix it up every once in a while!

Making the best banana bread in the world isn’t all that hard. It’s simply a matter of knowing a few key tips and adding them to your recipe. Happy baking!