Mini Banana Bread Loaves are the ultimate small batch sweet treat. These mini banana loaves are quick and easy to make in either the air fryer or the oven. The small individual loaves are the perfect size to share between two for morning tea, and the other can be saved in the freezer for later.
Mini Banana Bread Loaves may very well be my new favourite banana treat. I know, I know - I say that every time I make a new banana recipe.
But these mini banana loaves are seriously to die for. They're moist and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness. This small batch recipe makes just two mini loaves, which is perfect for sharing with just a few people.
The loaves are best served warm out of the oven with lashings of butter, but if you're eating later just give them a zap in the microwave for a few seconds.
I bake these loaves in my beloved air fryer, but that will only work if you have individual mini loaf pans. If you have a mini loaf tray, or you don't own an air fryer, the good news is they're great in the oven too and you'll find instructions for both cooking methods below.
Want to make one large loaf? Simply head over to my Buttermilk Banana Bread. It's the recipe I adapted to make this mini banana bread!
Why you'll love this recipe...
- Quick and easy to make.
- Small Batch.
- Can be made in the Air Fryer or the Oven.
Have a bunch of overripe bananas? Try these 12 Ripe Banana Recipes to Use Up Your Bunch or learn How to Freeze Bananas.
INGREDIENTS
These mini banana bread loaves are made with everyday ingredients which most of us have on hand all the time. Here’s what you’ll need (full measurements are listed in the printable recipe card below)…
- Very Ripe Bananas
- Unsalted Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- Milk
- All Purpose / Plain Flour
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Spray oil or butter (for greasing loaf pans)
INSTRUCTIONS
AIR FRYER METHOD
Preheat the air fryer to 180C / 350F by either using the preheat setting or running your air fryer for 5 minutes on that temperature. Place bananas in the basket and bake for 15 minutes.
Remove and allow to cool. Turn down your air fryer to 160C / 320F and let it run for a further 5 minutes empty to stay warm while you get the loaves ready. Grease loaf pans.
Mix the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add egg, vanilla and milk and continue to mix. Remove bananas from their skin then mash on a plate. Add mashed to the mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
In a seperate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
Pour wet ingredients in and stir until just combined.
Divide mixture into two mini loaf pans and place in the air fryer basket for 20 minutes, or until the bread is cooked through and a skewer comes out clean.
Leave in the pan for 10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve warm with lashings of butter.
OVEN METHOD
- Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F and line a loaf pan with baking paper. Place bananas on a baking tray lined with baking paper or a silicone mat and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool. Turn the oven down to 160C / 325F. Grease loaf pans.
- Mix the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, vanilla and milk and continue to mix.
- Remove bananas from their skin then mash on a plate. Add mashed to the mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- In a seperate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Pour wet ingredients in and stir until just combined.
- Divide mixture into two mini loaf pans and place in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the bread is cooked through and a skewer comes out clean.
- Leave in the pan for 10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve warm with lashings of butter.
HOW FULL DO YOU FILL A LOAF PAN FOR BANANA BREAD?
I always recommend filling the loaf pans ¾ full with mixture. This gives the loaf some room to rise but not so much you need to worry about overflowing.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN BANANA BREAD IS DONE?
Banana bread is ready when it is golden brown and passes the skewer test - when a skewer is inserted into the centre of the bread is comes out clean!
HOW TO STORE BANANA BREAD
Store banana bread in an airtight container to keep it from drying out. You can leave it at room temperature for a day or two, or store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
CAN YOU FREEZE BANANA BREAD?
You can absolutely freeze banana bread. Individually wrap slices in plastic film and place in an airtight container or ziplock bag, and freeze for up to two months.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
- Be sure to use ripe bananas - the spottier and darker, the better.
- Grease the loaf pans before using.
- Don't over mix when combining the wet and dry ingredients. Stir until just combined to prevent the banana bread being dense.
- Only fill loaf pans ¾ of the way full to allow room for the loaf to rise.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days, in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for 2 months.
MORE BANANA RECIPES
MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES
- Air Fryer Banana Muffins
- Air Fryer Apple Cinnamon Rolls
- Air Fryer Carrot Fries
- Air Fryer Kale Chips
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
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Mini Banana Bread Loaves
Mini Banana Bread Loaves are the ultimate small batch sweet treat. These mini banana loaves are quick and easy to make in either the air fryer or the oven. The small individual loaves are the perfect size to share between two for morning tea, and the other can be saved in the freezer for later.
Ingredients
- 2 Very Ripe Bananas
- ¼ cup Unsalted Butter, melted
- ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Egg
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ cup Milk
- 1 cup All Purpose / Plain Flour, sifted
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- Pinch of Salt
Instructions
AIR FRYER INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the air fryer to 180C / 350F by either using the preheat setting or running your air fryer for 5 minutes on that temperature. Place bananas in the basket and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool. Turn down your air fryer to 160C / 320F and let it run for a further 5 minutes empty to stay warm while you get the loaves ready. Grease loaf pans.
- Mix the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add egg, vanilla and milk and continue to mix.
- Remove bananas from their skin then mash on a plate. Add mashed to the mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- In a seperate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Pour wet ingredients in and stir until just combined.
- Divide mixture into two mini loaf pans and place in the air fryer basket for 20 minutes, or until the bread is cooked through and a skewer comes out clean.
- Leave in the pan for 10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve warm with lashings of butter.
OVEN INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F and line a loaf pan with baking paper. Place bananas on a baking tray lined with baking paper or a silicone mat and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool. Turn the oven down to 160C / 325F. Grease loaf pans.
- Mix the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, vanilla and milk and continue to mix.
- Remove bananas from their skin then mash on a plate. Add mashed to the mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
- In a seperate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Pour wet ingredients in and stir until just combined.
- Divide mixture into two mini loaf pans and place in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the bread is cooked through and a skewer comes out clean.
- Leave in the pan for 10 minutes, then move to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve warm with lashings of butter.
Notes
TIPS FOR MAKING MINI BANANA LOAVES
- Be sure to use ripe bananas - the spottier and darker, the better.
- Grease the loaf pans before using.
- Don't over mix when combining the wet and dry ingredients. Stir until just combined to prevent the banana bread being dense.
- I use two standard size mini loaf pans (14cm / 5 ¾″) for this recipe. If you have small loaf pans you may need to use more than 2.
- Only fill loaf pans ¾ of the way full to allow room for the loaf to rise.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days, in the fridge for a week or in the freezer for 2 months.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 353Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 284mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 3gSugar: 22gProtein: 6g
Teresa says
Hi, is it necessary to bake the banana first?
Cassie says
Hey Teresa - it depends on what your goals are. It's a fairly easy step (throw the bananas in the oven for 10 mins) that will give you banana bread that is super flavourful. But you can skip it if you wish 🙂
Sharifah Swallow says
My loaves are a bit heavy......spongy at the bottom. How can I improve?$
Cassie says
hi Sharifah - two thoughts here.. first it could be a result of overmixing the batter. Banana bread is one of these things where you only want to mix *just* until you see no flour anymore. the second could be that it wasn't cooked long enough. Hope that helps 🙂
jessica says
I like this banana cake it is soft and spongey it is really good the only thing is that it doesn't have a lot of flavours is there any way to add more flavour to it??
Cassie says
Hey Jessica - are your bananas really ripe / overripe? That generally plays a part in bringing the depth of flavour. The roasting them beforehand helps with that too. Otherwise you could add in crushed nuts or choc chips 🙂
Cindy Perdicaro says
Walnuts! I never make a Banana Bread without them!