Banana bread

Banana bread

A sliced loaf of banana bread
Type	Sweet bread cake
Course	Dessert
Place of origin	United States
Invented	1870s–1880s
Main ingredients	Bananas wheat water sugar
Cookbook: Banana Bread   Media: Banana bread

Banana bread is a type of sweet bread or cake made from mashed bananas. Banana bread is typically classified as a quick bread, relying on chemical leavening agents such as baking soda or baking powder rather than yeast, which allows it to be prepared without fermentation. It is often a moist and sweet quick bread, but some recipes are yeast raised. Its sweet taste and slightly crumbly texture make it more akin to a tea cake or muffin than bread.

The use of overripe bananas is common, as their increased sugar content and softer texture contribute to the bread’s characteristic sweetness and moist crumb.

History

Bananas were introduced to the US in the 1870s, but it took a while for them to appear as ingredients in desserts. Banana bread was sold as early as January 1881 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Banana bread recipes emerged in cookbooks across North America when baking powder became available in grocery stores in the 1930s. Some food historians believe banana bread was a by-product of the Great Depression, as resourceful housewives did not wish to throw away overripe bananas. Others believe that banana bread was developed in corporate kitchens to promote flour and baking soda products.

Banana bread experienced a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020.

In the Philippines, banana bread is usually called "banana cake." It was introduced during the American colonial period of the Philippines as the Philippines became a top banana supplier.

February 23 is National Banana Bread Day in the United States.

Variations

• Banana raisin bread
• Banana nut bread (often featuring chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans or almonds)
• Chocolate chip banana bread
• Banana bread muffins
• Banana crumble bread
• Vegan banana bread (made without eggs or dairy products)
• Blueberry banana bread (or other fruits such as raspberry or orange to add additional flavours)

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  Banana bread
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  Chocolate chip banana bread
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  Blueberry banana bread
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  Filipino banana bread (often called "banana cake")

See also

• Banana cake
• Bánh chuối, a banana cake from Vietnam
• List of American breads
• List of banana dishes
• List of quick breads
• List of sweet breads
• Pumpkin bread
• Zucchini bread
• Carrot bread