How to Make Banana Bread

4 Steps to the Best Banana Bread

We're not kidding when we say the peanut butter–glazed banana bread pictured here is one of the tastier treats to come out of our kitchen. And despite the rich flavor, our recipes don't use a cup of oil or butter, as many others do; we use less than half that without sacrificing the moist texture that makes banana bread a treat. Baking consistently good loaves—especially lightened versions—does require some attention. Follow our steps for perfect results. Banana bread freezes well, but for a glazed version, slather on the gooey goodness after you've thawed the loaf.

• See More: Best Banana Bread Recipes

1. Combine Wet Ingredients

This is a hybrid between a muffin method (combining wet and dry ingredients separately by hand) and a cake method (whipping butter and sugar with a mixer).

2. Add the Sugar

Next, add the sugars and beat to incorporate air into the batter. The recipes use a mix of granulated and brown sugars to add straight sweetness and caramel notes.

3. Add the Dry Ingredients

Weighing flour is the most accurate way to measure. If you don't have a scale, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Then add the remaining dry ingredients; stir into the sugar mixture.

4. Stir in Your Flavoring Additions

Besides the requisite bananas, you can add lots of tasty ingredients to the batter—chopped nuts, chocolate chips, spices, dried fruit, and alcohol, to name a few.