Banana Bread Recipe Without Baking Soda

Make fresh, fluffy and super moist banana bread with this quick and easy banana bread recipe without baking soda – this is no milk, no baking soda, and still have a light and fluffy banana bread recipe ever!!

Have some ripe bananas and want to make a batch of quick banana bread?? But run out of baking soda?? Well.. this is not a big issue. Because you can still make a moist, light and fluffy banana bread even if you’ve no baking soda at all..

If you love baking breads at home – must try my Libby’s pumpkin bread recipe, a perfect fall dessert to enjoy pumpkins..

Over-ripped Mashed bananas are mixed with a combo of brown and white sugar, eggs, sour cream, all-purpose flour and spices.

This banana bread is risen with just eggs and baking powder. Where eggs works to make the bread fluffy and baking powder is used in replacement of baking soda {not in the same ratio}.

Why this recipe work??

Easy to make – The entire recipe of banana bread without baking soda is as easy as you make your regular breakfast. Just mix, mix, mix and bake – and you’ve done!!

Using Simple Ingredients – If you’re a baking enthusiast, you’d really know the basic ingredients every baker or even beginner’s must have in kitchen. So this banana bread without baking soda recipe is using simple and easy to get ingredients.

Without Baking Soda – Baking soda is a leavening agent, that helps to risen the bread and enhance its flavors. However, if you’re run out of it, or simply want to skip baking soda – it’s quite easy, you can make your banana bread without baking soda easily…

Baking Soda vs Baking Powder While Baking Banana Bread

Baking soda is a leavening agent that needs an acidic ingredient like buttermilk, vinegar or yogurt to activate. In banana bread, over-ripped bananas work as acidic ingredient.

It’s basically used to risen the bread and enhance its flavors and aroma. It also gives the bread its perfect domed shape.

On the other side, baking powder contains both an acid and base, so it can be used in replacement of baking soda while baking banana bread. Not in the same ratio, here I’ve explained it more clearly.

1/4 tsp baking soda = 1 tsp baking powder

The ratio is quite simple. It means, if you’re taking 1 teaspoon of baking soda, you’ll replace it with 4 teaspoons of baking powder.

Please Note – Although this is a straight alternative while substituting baking soda to baking powder, however it’s still recommended to do a small batch test to ensure the final results.

Which Bananas work best??

Now this is the question.. because we’re making banana bread here. So choosing right bananas is mandatory.

LOOK at the picture above – here are six type of bananas from green to fresh and ripe to over ripe.

So which one should you choose?? If you choose fresh one from green to yellow. It will be less sweetened and will take time to mash.

Always choose right bananas that are over–ripped like the 4th one in picture – that have more spotted.

Why?? Because over-ripped bananas are more sweetened than the fresh one and they’re likely to be more easy to mash even with fork!!

Looking for more easy Desserts?? Try these now!!

• Knott’s Boysenberry Pie
• Libby’s Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Libby’s Pumpkin Bread Recipe
• Best Amangiri Pancake Recipe
• 5-Minute Anabolic Ice Cream

How to make Banana Bread Without Baking Soda

Ok, so now without wasting your further time, let’s gather the ingredients to make this easy-peasy banana bread at home.. And don’t worry – I’m not using baking soda here..

Unsalted Butter – Unsalted butter adds richness and flavor to the bread, but if you’re using salted butter, be sure to lessen the amount of salt in the recipe.

Light Brown Sugar – Brown sugar adds soft texture and caramel like flavor to the bread. It also adds sweetness and moisture.

Egg – Egg Acts as a binder, and helps to hold the ingredients together, providing structure to the bread.

Ripe Banana – Choosing ripe bananas adds natural sweetness, extra moisture and flavor to the bread. They also contribute to the soft and tender texture of banana bread.

Full-Fat Sour Cream – Adding full-fat sour cream adds moisture and richness to the bread, which results in a tender crumb. Sour cream also adds slightly tanginess to balance the sweetness.

Vanilla Extract – With its aromatic and sweet notes, it enhances the flavor of the bread.

All-Purpose Flour – It is the key ingredient of the bread that provides structure and volume to the bread.

Kosher Salt – Salt is used to enhance the flavor of bread, and balance the sweetness of bananas and sugar.

Baking Powder – Baking powder acts as a leavening agent that helps bread to rise and become light and fluffy. It’s the best substitute for baking soda while baking banana bread.

Ground Cinnamon – Complementing the natural sweetness of bananas, it adds warm and aromatic flavor to the bread.

Dark Chocolate Chunks – A perfect add-in that everybody loves. Chocolate chunks add richness and a burst of chocolate flavor to the bread.

Turbinado Sugar – Used for topping the bread. It adds a crunchy texture and caramel-like sweetness when baking. However, this is completely optional.

Look how simple and easy ingredients I’m using here to make this delicious banana bread. If you love baking, I’m quite sure, most of the ingredients you already have in your kitchen. So gather – measure and start baking..

Banana Bread Recipe Without Baking Soda

So once you’ve gathered the ingredients and ready to bake the fantasy in your kitchen.

Let’s follow the simple and easy steps and bake this banana bread at home without baking soda and with ripe bananas.

Step 1

Start by taking a 9*5 inch loaf pan. Spray with a non-stick spray in whole pan, and place a parchment paper. It will help prevent bread from sticking.

Step 2

Take a pan, and melt butter until it turned amber brown and it smells nutty. The process will take about 3 to 4 minutes, so be sure, not to burn the butter.

Step 3

Take a large bowl and add cold butter, and brown sugar. We’re using brown sugar here instead of white sugar.

Because using brown sugar in banana bread we’ll get a super moist and caramel flavor in bread.

Now beat it with a hand mixer until the crumbly texture forms. Add an egg, and beat again to make a smooth paste.

Chef Tip – If your bananas aren’t extremely ripe, you can add 1/4th cup of brown more.

Step 4

Take another bowl, and add mashed bananas with sour cream. Try choosing ripe bananas, because they’re easier to mash and are more sweetened.

Add vanilla extract and gently fold the mixture with a help of spatula until everything mix well. Set aside.

{You can mash the bananas using potato masher, using a fork or even before peeling with fingers.}

Step 5

Time to add dry ingredients – Take a large bowl, and add all-purpose flour with kosher salt, baking powder and ground cinnamon. Mix well.

Step 6

Now add the mashed bananas with cold butter and sugar mixture and then fold in with flour mixture.

Don’t over mix the ingredients. A little bit of lumps are ok. Let it go with it.

Step 7

In this step, you can go with your favorite add-ins. I love to try the variations. But my family love banana cake with chocolate.

So I chosen to add small dark chocolate chunks in it. However, you can go with your favorite nuts too.

Step 8

Once it’s done, pour the banana bread batter into your prepared bread loaf.

In this step, you can sprinkle it with some turbinado sugar {a caramel flavored sugar} which adds extra crunch and caramel flavor. However, this is completely optional.

Baker’s Tip – After pouring banana bread batter into loaf pan, tap it on a flat surface with hands. It will help release extra bubbles from batter, resulting even and smooth bread texture.

Step 9

Time to bake the goodness – Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake it for 60 to 70 minutes at 350 deg. F (180 deg. C).

You can check it with a skewer or toothpick or a cake tester, whether the banana bread has done or not.

For this, put a toothpick inside the bread, and if it comes out clean. It means, the banana bread has done.

Finally!!

Once the bread has done. Remove it from oven, and let it cool for at least an hour before removing from pan.

Slice the banana bread and enjoy for breakfast, for dessert or just as a snack!!

Pro Tips

Use Over-ripe bananas – Now if you’re going to make this delicious banana bread at home, it is mandatory to use bananas which have more dark spots on their peel. Just remember: More ripe bananas = More Sweetened

Follow the recipe carefully – This is also important if you’re just beginner. As you see, I’ve divided the recipe in many steps, and all the steps are necessary. So to make your banana bread perfect, just be sure to follow the recipe carefully as it is.

Don’t over-mix the ingredients – One more mistake one can do is to try to make the batter smooth, that results over-mixing and make the cake dense and make the cake like rubber texture.

So, once the flour is moistened, just leave it. A little lumps of flour in batter are just OK. All they’ll set while baking.

Cover the pan with a foil – I love to have my banana bread brownly and crunchy as shown here. However, if you don’t like it too brown, you can loosely cover the loaf pan with a foil after 30 minutes of baking. This will help to prevent it from burning and turning too much brown.

Banana Bread Add-ins & Fix-ins

Here are some quick add-ins and fix-ins you can do by making small variations to your banana bread that can result in a huge change in taste and texture.

Vegan – You can easily swap the recipe by replacing egg to flax egg and using non–dairy milk to make this banana bread vegan.

Spiced Banana Bread – To make the spicy version of banana bread, you can add 1/4^th teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4^th teaspoon of cardamom, and 1/8^th teaspoon of all-spice to the flour mixture.

Banana Bread with Nuts – To make a nutty version of banana bread you can add chopped roasted pecans, or walnuts or any of your favorite nuts in it.

Pumpkin Banana Bread – To make a fall twist, add 1 cup of pumpkin puree to the banana bread batter. You can sprinkle some pumpkin seeds on the top before baking.

Chocolate Banana Bread – Chocolate is everyone’s favorite. So make this chocolaty Banana Bread by adding a handful of chopped white or dark chocolate chunks.

Butter – Enjoy the slices of hot banana bread by slathering some salted butter over them.

Tips to Store the Leftover Banana Bread

Although this banana bread is so delicious, that it’s hard to left anymore. But still if you have some leftover banana bread, and want to enjoy it later.

Surprisingly this is quite easy, and by adopting some steps carefully – you can even store the bread for a longer time period.

In the Refrigerator

To store the leftover banana bread carefully – do the following easy steps:

• Allow to cool the banana bread completely at room temperature. You can use air-tight container for it.
• Once the bread has been cooled down completely, wrap the bread in parchment paper, or wax lined wrap.
• Now place it in an air-tight container, and place the container in refrigerator.
• This will help retain its moisture and will keep the bread fresh and moist for longer time period.

In the Freezer

In case, you want to freeze the banana bread for longer time period – you must freeze it carefully. For this, do the following steps:

• Once you’ve cooled the bread at room temperature – wrap the bread in plastic wrap or parchment paper tightly.
• Now place the bread in a resealable freezer bag, and place it in freezer.
• This will help to keep the bread fresh for up to three months easily.

How to Thaw the banana bread??

You must have to thaw the frozen banana bread properly, if you want to enjoy the same freshness and moist banana bread as it was baked.

For this, do the following:

Firstly, remove the banana bread from freezer, and take off its wrappings.

Now let it sit at room temperature for a few hours, or for a whole night to thaw it completely.

Alternatively

To make the thawing process more fast, you can also reheat the individual bread slices in microwave.

Enjoy your banana bread once its thawed and ready to eat!!