5 Celebrity Banana Bread Recipes, Ranked (And How to Make Them at Home)
Banana bread has always been the fallback plan. Bananas going soft? We already know what’s coming next.
Yet, somewhere along the way, banana bread became a bit of a personality test.
Everyone has a version they swear by, and celebrities are no different. Some go classic, some go rich, and some secretly turn it into a dessert.
We looked at a handful of celebrity banana bread recipes, tried them, and ranked them in order of what we’d go back to, again and again.
What Makes a Banana Bread Worth Baking
Before we get into the list, it helps to know what separates a good loaf from one that’s easily forgotten.
The best banana bread recipe usually comes down to a few things:
Very ripe bananas (the darker, the better)
A balance between moisture and structure
Not overmixing the batter
Enough flavor to stand on its own
From there, it’s all about preference. Some keep it simple. Others push into cake territory.
Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman)
Ree Drummond sticks with a classic approach that does not try to reinvent anything.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 bananas
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
Mix the dry ingredients.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Add the eggs and mashed bananas.
Combine it with the dry mixture.
Pour the mixture into the loaf pan.
Bake for 60 minutes.
This is the kind of banana bread recipe from celebrities that reminds us why the original version still works so well.
Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver’s version is a bit lighter, with a slightly different texture that sets it apart from the others.
Ingredients:
2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 bananas
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mash the bananas.
Mix the eggs, oil, and sugar.
Stir in the flour.
Fold in the nuts.
Pour the mixture into the loaf tin.
Bake for 45 - 55 minutes.
This is the one you’ll reach for when you want something a little less heavy but still worth making again.
Joanna Gaines
Joanna Gaines keeps her version soft, balanced, and easy to pull together without too much effort.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 bananas
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Add the eggs and vanilla.
Mix in the mashed bananas.
Combine everything.
Pour the mixture into the pan.
Bake for 50 - 60 minutes
This is one of those easy banana bread recipes that you can make without thinking twice.
Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal
This version keeps things simple, which is exactly why it works so well.
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix the dry ingredients.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Add the eggs and vanilla.
Stir in the mashed bananas.
Combine with the dry ingredients.
Pour the mixture into the loaf pan.
Bake for 55 - 65 minutes.
If you are learning how to make banana bread, this is the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve got it figured out.
And, for an extra special treat, you can watch Maggie and Jake make their mother’s recipe with the NY Times on YouTube!
Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy Teigen’s version is richer than most, with enough texture and sweetness to make it stand out right away.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (melted)
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Steps:
Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, whisk the butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Stir in the mashed bananas.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts.
Pour the mixture into a greased loaf pan.
Bake for 60 - 70 minutes.
This is the loaf you make when you want something a little extra, and it delivers every time.
Something Worth Baking Again
Banana bread doesn’t need much to be great.
Once you find a version that works for you, it becomes the kind of recipe you can rely on without second-guessing it.
Whether you lean rich, simple, or somewhere in between, there’s something very satisfying about getting it right each and every time.
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