Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (2024)

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This easy banana bread without baking soda relies on baking powder for its light, fluffy, and tender texture. It's moist, flavorful, and the best way to use up overripe, brown bananas on your counter. With no special equipment required, this is a great banana bread recipe for beginner bakers!

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (1)

Picture this- you realize you have some overripe bananas on your counter and decide to go to the grocery store to pick up ingredients to make banana bread. You get home and suddenly realize that you forgot the baking soda!

Believe it or not, you can make a delicious loaf of banana bread without baking soda that is moist, soft, and fluffy with the help of baking powder! It won't rise quite as much, but it will still be absolutely delicious and tender packed with flavor from brown bananas and ground cinnamon.

If you love quick bread recipes, try honey banana bread, banana bread with oil, sour cream pumpkin bread, or banana bread with cream cheese frosting next!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Helpful Equipment and Tools
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Expert Baking Tips
  • Storage and Freezing
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Breads and Buns to Try
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • One bowl banana bread- You only need one large mixing bowl to make banana bread with baking powder; no mixer or any other special equipment is required!
  • Use up overripe bananas- Instead of throwing out your brown bananas, you can use them for this recipe! Brown bananas are sweet and fragrant, making this banana bread more flavorful and moist.
  • Great for beginners- Like my Nutella banana bread, this is a great recipe for beginner bakers. You don't need a mixer or any other special equipment for this recipe, the ingredients are easy to find at any grocery store, and the instructions are straight-forward and easy to follow (especially with the process shots below).

Ingredient Notes

Here are notes about some of the ingredients used. For quantities and full instructions, see the recipe card below.

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (2)
  • Bananas-Making banana bread is the best way to use your overripe brown bananas! Overripe bananas have the sweetest flavor and are easy to mash. Fragrant bananas with lots of brown spots and speckles are perfect.
  • Butter- Use melted unsalted butter for a rich flavor and to make sure the bread doesn't turn out too salty.
  • Neutral oil-Making banana bread with oil makes it super moist and keeps it that way for days. Use a flavorless oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil.
  • Eggs-Two large eggs bind the ingredients together. Make sure they're room temperature so they're easy to mix. Pull them out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours before baking.
  • Vanilla extract-A splash of vanilla enhances the other flavors. Pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. High quality ingredients make a huge difference!
  • Apple cider vinegar-Vinegar tenderizes the gluten, creating soft and tender banana bread. You can't taste the vinegar at all. White vinegar works just as well as apple cider vinegar.
  • All purpose flour-This makes up the banana bread's structure. Make sure to measure it correctly in grams with a kitchen scale or by using the spoon and level method.
  • Baking powder-This is key for making banana bread without baking soda! Baking powder is a complete leavener that reacts with heat as the banana bread bakes, helping it rise and get fluffy. Make sure your baking powder is less than 6 months old so it has the best rising power.
  • Salt- Activates the baking powder and helps offset the sweetness.
  • Ground cinnamon- This adds extra warmth. You can use other spices too like nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Eggs: Substitute the eggs with 2 flax eggs.
  • All purpose flour: Swap gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour for the all purpose flour to make the banana bread gluten free. My favorite is from Bob's Red Mill.
  • You can add extra spices like ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and allspice to make spiced banana bread.
  • Fold 1 cup of dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips into the batter for extra sweetness.
  • For banana nut bread, fold 1 cup of chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts into the batter.
  • Top the banana bread with a basic icing, a drizzle of salted caramel, or with any of the frosting recipes on my website, like classic cream cheese frosting or chai buttercream.

Bake your banana bread in a 1 pound 9X5-inchloaf panlined with parchment paper or sprayed with non-stick baking spray. The pan will be very full but trust the process! You can also split the batter between mini loaf pans.

Step by Step Instructions

Before you begin baking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/180 degrees Celsius, line your loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (3)

STEP 1: Start by mashing the bananas in a large mixing bowl with a fork or potato masher. They can be as smooth or chunky as you want.

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (4)

STEP 2: Whisk the melted butter, oil, eggs, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar into the bananas until well combined.

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (5)

STEP 3: Next, fold the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon into the wet ingredients. Gently fold with a rubber or silicone spatula until the dry streaks of flour disappear into the batter.

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (6)

STEP 4: Pour the banana bread batter into your prepared loaf pan. Top with coarse sugar if desired and bake for 65-80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. The batter takes a long time to bake because it's very thick and wet! Be patient if it's still raw in the middle and keep baking.

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (7)

STEP 5: Once it's baked through, remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Let it cool completely for an hour, then slice and serve!

Expert Baking Tips

  1. Use overripe bananas. The more ripe your bananas are, the sweeter flavor they'll have. If your bananas aren't ripe enough, you can quickly ripen them by placing them on a baking sheet lined with foil and baking at 350°F/180°C for 15 minutes and scooping out the pulp. You can also store yellow bananas in a paper bag to make them ripen faster!
  2. Measure the flour correctly.Use akitchen scaleto weigh the flour in grams for the most accurate results. If you don't have a scale, use the spoon and sweep method. Fluff the flour up in the bag before gently scooping it into your measuring cup.
  3. Don't overmix the batter.Gently fold in the dry ingredients with a rubber or silicone spatula until the dry streaks of flour just disappear. Mixing the batter too much can cause gluten to overdevelop, leading to gummy, tough banana bread.

Storage and Freezing

Let the banana bread cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. It'll last a bit longer in the refrigerator, but the low humidity environment might cause it to dry out.

Freezing

First, wrap the banana bread tightly in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. You can wrap individual slices or the whole loaf. Place the wrapped bread in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Let the banana bread thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then let it warm up on the counter for about an hour before eating.

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (8)

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between baking soda and baking powder?

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and needs acidic ingredients to react to create carbon dioxide. Baking powder is made from sodium bicarbonate, acids, and an anti-caking agent like cornstarch. You only have to wet it and add heat to make it react. Baking soda is also much stronger than baking powder.

Why is my banana bread pale?

Banana bread with baking powder and no baking soda has a lighter color. When baking soda is used in banana bread, it increases the pH of the batter which makes the crumb and crust a darker brown color.

Why is my banana bread dense?

If the banana bread is too dense or dry, you probably over-measured the dry ingredients. Make sure to weigh them in grams for the best results or use the spoon and sweep method.

Can I make this into muffins?

Yes! It will make about 12 muffins. Bake the muffins at 425°F for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350°F and start checking for doneness after 20 more minutes.

More Breads and Buns to Try

  • Homemade Cherry Cinnamon Rolls
  • Nutella Swirl Banana Bread
  • Moist Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • One-Bowl Cornbread Donuts

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📖 Recipe

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (13)

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda

Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (14)Megan Weimer

This easy banana bread without baking soda relies on baking powder for its light, fluffy, and tender texture. It's moist, flavorful, and the best way to use up overripe, brown bananas on your counter. With no special equipment required, this is a great banana bread recipe for beginner bakers!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 10 slices

Calories 311 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

  • Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl, making them as smooth or chunky as desired

    450 grams bananas

  • Add melted butter, oil, eggs, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla to mashed bananas. Whisk until well combined.

    56 grams melted unsalted butter, 56 grams neutral oil, 2 large eggs, 40 grams apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Fold the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula until no dry streaks of flour remain.

    240 grams all purpose flour, 200 grams granulated sugar, 3 ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • Pour the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth out the top, sprinkle with turbinado sugar if desired, and bake for 65-80 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.

  • Remove from the oven and let the banana bread cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.

  • Let the banana bread cool completely, slice, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Use overripe bananas for the best flavor. They should be brown or speckled. Don't use green bananas.

Storage: Store banana bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Freezing: Wrap the banana bread in plastic wrap and freeze in an airtight container or bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then on the counter for 30 minutes before enjoying.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 311kcalCarbohydrates: 49.2gProtein: 4.1gFat: 11.4gSaturated Fat: 3.7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.1gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 44.8mgSodium: 395.5mgPotassium: 206mgFiber: 1.9gSugar: 25.7gVitamin A: 216.9IUVitamin C: 3.9mgCalcium: 97.1mgIron: 1.6mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Delightful Breads and Buns

  • Sour Cream Pumpkin Bread
  • Chocolate Chip Biscuits
  • Banana Bread with Oil
  • Moist Honey Banana Bread
Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (19)

About Megan Weimer

Megan Weimer is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Dollop of Dough. Since 2020, she's been inspiring home bakers to create delicious dessert recipes for any occasion that are easy, reliable, and tested in her own kitchen.

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Easy Banana Bread without Baking Soda (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you don't add baking soda to banana bread? ›

Believe it or not, you can make a delicious loaf of banana bread without baking soda that is moist, soft, and fluffy with the help of baking powder! It won't rise quite as much, but it will still be absolutely delicious and tender packed with flavor from brown bananas and ground cinnamon.

What can I use in place of baking soda in banana bread? ›

Baking powder is the best substitute for baking soda in banana bread, but if you want to make banana bread without baking soda or powder, you may also find success swapping in self rising flour.

What can I use to replace baking soda in a recipe? ›

If you don't have baking soda, you can use baking powder, at three times what the recipe calls for. So if a recipe calls for one teaspoon of baking soda, you can use three teaspoons of baking powder. Baking powder also contains a little bit of salt, so it's also a good idea to halve the salt the recipe calls for.

How much baking powder to replace baking soda? ›

As a general rule, triple the amount of baking powder for the amount of baking soda called for in a recipe. For example, 1 teaspoon baking soda = 3 teaspoons baking powder.

Can I skip adding baking soda? ›

You technically can leave out baking soda in certain recipes (like chocolate chip cookies or pancakes) in a pinch, but you need to understand that your finished product will not be as light and fluffy as the recipe intended.

What happens if you don't add enough baking soda? ›

Baking soda is a strong leavening agent and it is important to always use the exact amount called for in the recipe. While not enough baking soda will give an inadequate rise and a heavy finished product, adding too much will cause baked goods to fall and leave a metallic, soapy taste behind.

Can you leave baking soda out of a recipe? ›

For baked goods that don't require too much leavening, such as cookies or pancakes, it's actually OK to leave out the baking soda completely — they just won't be as light and fluffy. If you do go this route when making pancakes, Gan recommends pouring less batter into the pan to cover the same surface area.

What happens when you forget to put baking soda in a recipe? ›

Leaving baking soda out of the cake prevents it from rising, but you can use baking powder as a substitute. Baking soda is a salt that makes food light and fluffy. If you don't have this ingredient at hand, use a baking soda substitute. Without it, your cake won't rise and can turn out flat.

What happens if no baking soda in bread? ›

Baking soda is an important ingredient in baked goods and bread. Leaving it out will change the flavor and texture of the food in an unpleasant way. While there are substitutes, if your recipe calls for baking soda, it's important to use it whenever possible.

Can I bake a recipe without baking soda? ›

There are several pantry-friendly ingredients that you can use as baking soda substitutes, including egg whites, self-rising flour and even club soda. Or, you can use baking powder - and even a couple of extremely scientific sounding items that perhaps you just happen to have lying around - baker's ammonia anyone?

How to make your own baking soda? ›

While you can buy baking soda at any grocery store, it's actually very easy to make at home from scratch. To make baking soda, start by mixing together 6 parts cream of tartar and 1 part baking soda. This will be your leavening agent. Next, add this mixture to a bowl with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice.

What else is the same as baking soda? ›

If you don't have baking soda on hand, you can use triple the amount of baking powder instead. Alternative substitutions include potassium bicarbonate, baker's ammonia, or self-rising powder. Baking soda is a staple ingredient found in the cupboards of both seasoned and amateur bakers.

What happens if I only use baking powder instead of baking soda? ›

Baking powder: Baking powder can be used to replace baking soda, though not at a 1-to-1 ratio. Because the former is not as strong as the latter, it's important to use three times the amount of baking powder as baking soda. Be aware, a slightly bitter, off-putting taste might result from using that much baking powder.

How to make own baking powder? ›

To make baking powder using baking soda, combine two parts cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) with one part baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). If you don't plan to use it right away, you will want to add some cornstarch to keep it from clumping.

What to do if you don't have baking powder? ›

To replace 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder, use 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) lemon juice. Summary: Replace 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder with 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda.

What is the purpose of baking soda in banana bread? ›

Baking soda: Baking soda acts as a leavener, which means it helps the banana bread rise. Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the overall flavor, but it won't make the loaf taste salty.\

Can you bake without baking soda? ›

There are several pantry-friendly ingredients that you can use as baking soda substitutes, including egg whites, self-rising flour and even club soda. Or, you can use baking powder - and even a couple of extremely scientific sounding items that perhaps you just happen to have lying around - baker's ammonia anyone?

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