This easy Bourbon Banana Bread recipe is soft, moist, and packed with banana flavor from ripe bananas, with a splash of bourbon mixed right in. Make it as one large loaf, mini loaves, or muffins for an easy breakfast, snack, or dessert!
Do your kids go through phases where they LOVE bananas and then suddenly won't touch them? Please tell me it's not just mine! One week I can't keep bananas in the house, and the next I have several overripe bananas sitting on the counter. That's exactly how this recipe came about. My kids asked for my Old-Fashioned Banana Bread, but I realized I was out of sour cream. After flipping through some family cookbooks for a different version to try, I decided on this Bourbon Banana Bread. It was a hit with the family and disappeared in no time!
Quick Look: Bourbon Banana Bread
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Bake Time: 25-60 minutes, depending on pan size
- Total Time: 30-65 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Main Ingredients: Ripe bananas, butter, eggs, bourbon, flour, sugar
- Perfect For: Breakfast, snacks, brunch, or dessert
Add me as a trusted Google source.Ingredient Notes
See printable recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and step-by-step directions.
- Ripe Bananas: Use very ripe or overripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the best sweetness and banana flavor. Mash them before adding to the batter.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter softened to room temperature so it creams smoothly with the sugar.
- Bourbon: You only need one tablespoon of bourbon. It adds extra flavor without overpowering the bananas. No need to use an expensive bottle!
- All-Purpose Flour: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off to avoid adding too much, which can result in dry banana bread.
Variations & Substitutions
- Whiskey or Rum: Swap the bourbon for an equal amount of whiskey or rum for a slightly different flavor.
- Add Nuts: Fold chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter for a little crunch.
- Chocolate Chips: Add semisweet or milk chocolate chips for extra sweetness and chocolate flavor.
- Cinnamon Chips: Mix in cinnamon chips for extra cinnamon flavor. If you love that combination, try my Snickerdoodle Banana Bread next!
- Raisins: Stir in a handful of raisins for extra sweetness and texture.
How to Make Bourbon Banana Bread
Step 1. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the softened butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
Step 2. Add the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder to the bowl. Mix until the dry ingredients are just combined.
Step 3. Add the eggs, mashed bananas, and bourbon. Mix until just combined.
Step 4. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan or divide evenly between 3 greased mini loaf pans.
Step 5. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for about 25 minutes for muffins, 35 minutes for mini loaves, or 55-60 minutes for one large loaf. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Step 6. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Baking Tips
- Use ripe bananas. The browner the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful the bread. If you have extras to use up, my Cinnamon Crumble Banana Bread is another family favorite.
- Don't overmix. Mix the batter just until combined to keep the bread soft and moist.
- Watch the bake time. Muffins, mini loaves, and a large loaf will bake at different rates.
- Check for doneness. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Storage & Freezing
- Room Temperature: Store cooled banana bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
- Freezer: Wrap the loaf or individual slices tightly and freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Bourbon Banana Bread Recipe FAQs
Yes! Use an equal amount of whiskey in place of the bourbon. The flavor will be slightly different, but it works great in this recipe.
Yes! Replace the bourbon with an equal amount of rum for a slightly sweeter, different flavor.
Yes. You can cream the softened butter and sugar by hand using a wooden spoon or sturdy whisk, although it will take a little more effort.
More Banana Recipes You’ll Love
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Bourbon Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
Instructions
- Preheat oven. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a large loaf pan or 3 mini loaf pans.
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the softened butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add dry ingredients. Add the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix until just combined.
- Finish batter. Add the eggs, mashed bananas, and bourbon. Mix until just combined.
- Fill pan. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan or divide evenly between 3 mini loaf pans.
- Bake. Bake for about 35 minutes for mini loaves or 55-60 minutes for one large loaf. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool. Let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Bananas: Use very ripe or overripe bananas for the best sweetness and banana flavor.
- Bourbon: Whiskey or rum can be substituted using the same amount.
- Add-ins: Fold in chopped walnuts, pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, or cinnamon chips if desired.
- Pan Sizes: Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes for muffins, 35 minutes for mini loaves, or 55-60 minutes for one large loaf.
- Doneness: Baking times can vary by pan and oven, so use the toothpick test to check the center.
Patty Carroll says
Wonder if you can use rum instead of bourbon? No whiskey drinkers here. Lol
Kristin says
Absolutely! That would work great too!! Enjoy!
Juanita says
I have read the recipe 3 times, but I don’t see what temperature you bake this bread at, 350 or 375? You may want to try punching this up by buttering and sugar coat the pans before putting batter in and baking; it will give it a whole added dimension. Thank you
Kristin says
Sorry about that, I have corrected the recipe to reflect the temperature! It should be 350 degrees!