Buttermilk Banana Bread Recipe

For more delicious and comforting banana bread recipes, also try our banana bread recipe, poppy seed lemon banana bread, and peanut butter banana bread.

How to make buttermilk

No buttermilk, no problem! Making buttermilk at home is really easy to do with some plain milk and an acid like fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. To make it, add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of buttermilk, stir it, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes until it starts to curdle. The buttermilk really takes this banana to the next level, so we don’t recommend using plain milk. The acidity in buttermilk actually helps break down the gluten which results in a lighter, fluffier, more tender texture. If you don’t have any on hand, it’s easy to make buttermilk at home using lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, or you can substitute it for kefir, or thinned-out yogurt or sour cream. Spotty bananas are another key ingredient. They’re sweeter, have more aroma, and mash easily to incorporate into the batter. When they start to look overripe, it’s time to make banana bread! Enjoy a slice of buttermilk banana bread anytime with a simple spread of butter (like our homemade butter) and a cup of tea or coffee. Make a second loaf and share it with friends, or freeze it for those moments when only a slice of freshly baked banana bread will do!

Flour – we use regular, all-purpose flour. But you can use a gluten-free flour blend if needed. Baking soda + Salt Bananas – save your spotty bananas for this recipe! Instead of throwing out overripe bananas, we freeze them, then thaw them in the oven while we’re getting out our banana bread ingredients. Eggs – if you have time to bring your eggs to room temperature eggs, it does help in the baking process. They blend more evenly into the batter, and it helps the dough rise more easily. Buttermilk – you can buy buttermilk or make your own by adding lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to regular milk. Granulated sugar and brown sugar – a mix of both granulated sugar and brown sugar gives this loaf great texture and just the right amount of sweetness. Butter – real butter gives this loaf a rich taste and helps keep it nice and moist. Vanilla extract

How do I know when my banana bread is done?

You’ll know your banana bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are fine). If the top is getting too dark and it’s not quite finished, tent a piece of aluminum foil overtop for the last bit of baking time.

Toasted nuts like walnuts or pecans Dark or milk chocolate chips Chopped dried fruit like dates Warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or cardamom

Freezing Banana Bread Made With Buttermilk

This banana bread freezes beautifully. Allow it to cool completely and then either slice it or freeze it whole. When properly stored, it will keep in your freezer for up to three months!