Ina Garten Banana Bread never fails to surprise everyone who eats it. The banana bread is incredibly tender and moist, which leaves you just wanting for another bite. It’s not too much to say that this old-fashioned way of making bread is on top of the most tasty banana bread recipes list. One more reason why you should choose this recipe is that it doesn’t require any kitchen equipment.
Ina Garten Banana Bread recipes
This banana bread recipe takes about 15 minutes for preparation and 1 hour for cooking. The following amount of ingredients will make 8 servings.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe Bananas (1 1/2 c, mashed)
- All-purpose flour (1 3/4 c)
- Vanilla extract (1 tsp)
- Light brown sugar (1/2 c)
- Buttermilk (1/4 c)
- 2 large Eggs
- Nutmeg (1/4 tsp, freshly grated)
- Fine salt (1/2 tsp)
- Cinnamon (1 tsp, ground)
- Baking soda (1 tsp)
- Granulated sugar (1/2 c)
- Pecans (1 c, toasted and chopped)
- Unsalted butter ( 1/2 c, melted)
Instructions for Ina Garten Banana Bread
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350-degrees F. Apply a thin layer of butter on a loaf pan (9 x 5 inch) to grease it.
Step 2: Choose a large bowl and add flour, nutmeg, salt, toasted pecans, cinnamon, baking soda and granulated sugar. Whisk together until combined.
Step 3: Prepare another bowl and mix together lightly beaten eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, buttermilk and melted butter. Add the mashed banana to the mixture.
Step 4: Combine the banana mixture and the flour mixture. Gently mix them together, there may be some lumps.
Step 5: Transfer the bread batter to the loaf pan and bake in the oven until it turns brown (for approximately 1 hour). Let the banana bread cool down for about 10 minutes in the loaf pan. Then place it on the cooling rack. Cut into serving size and serve.
More recipe: West Bend Bread Maker recipes for tasty homemade breads
Cooking tips
- You can always choose between buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream.
- Don’t throw away the over-ripe bananas, as they work very well in this recipe.
- Add chopped pecans, walnuts… or any other kinds of nuts you want. You can always skip this step for a nut-free banana bread.
- Insert a toothpick in the center of the banana bread. If the toothpick comes out clean, then you can rest assured that your bread is fully baked through.
Making the frosting for Ina Garten Banana Bread
If you find it kinda bland to just eat the banana bread alone with no toppings at all. It’s time to step up your game and serve it with cream cheese frosting. Here are the ingredients for this frosting to work:
Ingredients
- Room temperature Cream cheese (6 ounces)
- Sifted confectioners’ sugar (2 1/2 c)
- Pure vanilla extract (1 tsp)
- Room temperature unsalted Butter (6 tbsp)
Instructions
Step 1: Attach a paddle to the electric mixer. Then ddd vanilla, butter and cream cheese to the bowl that comes with your electric mixer. Turn on the machine and mix all the ingredients on low speed until they’re combined. Do not whip! Finally pour in the sugar and keep mixing to obtain a smooth texture.
Step 2: Scoop the cream cheese frosting on top of the banana bread. Then spread it evenly to form a thick layer of frosting. Sprinkle some walnut halves on top for garnishing.

See also: Best Hamilton Beach Bread Maker recipes you should try
Ina Garten banana bread muffins recipe
Another famous Ina Garten’s recipe is this banana bread muffins. This recipe is also called banana crunch muffins as it includes crunchy toppings.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour (3 c)
- 2 ripe Bananas (1 c, mashed)
- 1 ripe Banana (1 c, medium-diced)
- Sweetened shredded Coconut (1 c)
- Granola (1 c)
- Walnuts (1 c, small-diced)
- Pure vanilla extract (2 tsp)
- Whole milk (3/4 c)
- 2 Eggs (Extra-large)
- Unsalted butter (1/2 pound, melted and cooled down)
- Salt (1/2 tsp)
- Baking soda (1 tsp)
- Baking powder (2 tsp)
- Sugar (2 c)
Instructions for Ina Garten Banana Bread muffins
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Step 2: Prepare 18 muffin cups (large in size) and line them with paper muffin liners. Use an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and sift into the mixer’s bowl flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and sugar. Blend them together. Then pour in the melted butter and start mixing.
Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix together mashed bananas, vanilla, milk and eggs. Then combine them with the butter-and-flour mixture in the bowl of the mixer. Blend them well but do not overmix. Scrape the bowl while blending.
Step 4: Add into the batter the coconut, granola, walnuts and diced bananas. Pour the batter in each muffin cup lined with paper liners, filling to the top. Add coconut, granola or dried banana chips on top of each cup if you want.
Step 5: Bake until the tops of the muffins turn brown (for about 25 – 30 minutes).
Step 6: Let them cool down slightly and serve.
The banana bread muffins recipe is spongy, delicious, soft, attractive in color, not too oily. To get this requires you to meticulously prepare all the necessary ingredients, and follow each basic operation. Baked banana cake exudes a fragrant aroma, spongy outside, soft and smooth inside, awakening even the most fastidious taste buds.
Besides balancing the right amount of ingredients when combined, the enthusiasm and passion for cooking from the heart is always a factor that determines the taste of the dish. To get the most uplifting emotions every time you enter the kitchen, it is very necessary to prepare dishes with delicious flavors.

It’s a guarantee that this Ina Garten Banana Bread recipe will impress all of your friends and family! This bread has a wonderful flavor and the cooking process doesn’t require very much skills nor any special equipment. No doubt this bread recipe is one of the most successful recipes that Ina Garten has ever created. Don’t be hesitant to give this banana bread a try and share your end result with Bourbon O!
PrintIna Garten Banana Bread and Banana Muffins: Barefoot Contessa recipes
Ina Garten Banana Bread never fails to surprise everyone who eats it. The banana bread is incredibly tender and moist, which leaves you just wanting for another bite. It’s not too much to say that this old-fashioned way of making bread is on top of the most tasty banana bread recipes list. One more reason why you should choose this recipe is that it doesn’t require any kitchen equipment.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 1
- Category: Cake and Candy
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 4 ripe Bananas (1 1/2 c, mashed)
- All-purpose flour (1 3/4 c)
- Vanilla extract (1 tsp)
- Light brown sugar (1/2 c)
- Buttermilk (1/4 c)
- 2 large Eggs
- Nutmeg (1/4 tsp, freshly grated)
- Fine salt (1/2 tsp)
- Cinnamon (1 tsp, ground)
- Baking soda (1 tsp)
- Granulated sugar (1/2 c)
- Pecans (1 c, toasted and chopped)
- Unsalted butter ( 1/2 c, melted)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350-degrees F. Apply a thin layer of butter on a loaf pan (9 x 5 inch) to grease it.
Step 2: Choose a large bowl and add flour, nutmeg, salt, toasted pecans, cinnamon, baking soda and granulated sugar. Whisk together until combined.
Step 3: Prepare another bowl and mix together lightly beaten eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, buttermilk and melted butter. Add the mashed banana to the mixture.
Step 4: Combine the banana mixture and the flour mixture. Gently mix them together, there may be some lumps.
Step 5: Transfer the bread batter to the loaf pan and bake in the oven until it turns brown (for approximately 1 hour). Let the banana bread cool down for about 10 minutes in the loaf pan. Then place it on the cooling rack. Cut into serving size and serve.
Notes
- You can always choose between buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream.
- Don’t throw away the over-ripe bananas, as they work very well in this recipe.
- Add chopped pecans, walnuts… or any other kinds of nuts you want. You can always skip this step for a nut-free banana bread.
- Insert a toothpick in the center of the banana bread. If the toothpick comes out clean, then you can rest assured that your bread is fully baked through.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 500 kcal
- Sugar: 200 gram
- Sodium: 150 gram
Keywords: Ina Garten Banana Bread and Banana Muffins, Barefoot Contessa recipes

Hi, We are Bourbon O, a food blogger, cookbook author. I love eating lots of delicious food and figuring out how to make them.I have been an artist and journalist for many years. I am a food blogger who is crazy about food, drink and specially kitchen gadgets.