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Home > Recipes > Cake

One Bowl Sour Cream Banana Bread

Published: Apr 5, 2020 • Updated: Aug 25, 2022 by: Mella • 13 Comments

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This is the best sour cream banana bread I've ever had! Moist, rich, and so easy to make! This recipe uses brown butter, overripe bananas, and sour cream to yield the best result.

banana cake chocolate chips
Jump to:
  • Why you'll love this recipe
  • Ingredients for the Best Banana Bread
  • How to Make It
  • Banana Bread Variations
  • What's a good substitute for Sour Cream
  • Storage and Shelf-life
  • Recipe Video
  • Complete Recipe
  • Comments

Why you'll love this recipe

Reasons why I love this banana bread recipe:

  • moist and tender but not crumbly or dense.
  • not too sweet compared to other banana bread recipes.
  • made without an electric mixer; all you need is a bowl and a whisk.

It really is just a yummy banana bread that you can easily make for your family and friends. Side note: as I'm writing this, my two little toddlers are happily enjoying this for their afternoon snack. Happy Mama here!

Ingredients for the Best Banana Bread

I've tried many combinations of ingredients over the years and have proven many times that having these make the best banana bread ever!

Sour Cream

My best recommendation. You need fat to add moisture and creaminess to the cake.

Brown Butter

Not softened nor melted. it must be browned, more on this later. Use pure butter, the best that you can find. 

Browned butter has a rich nutty taste and has the best buttery smell! Ever since I first made it for one of my cake recipes, I've been obsessed–always finding recipes it will be good for. Of course, banana bread is just the perfect candidate and the result was a whole new level of deliciousness.

Cornstarch

Softens the protein of flour which makes the bread/cake soft and tender. A small amount does wonders to the overall texture of the cake.

Overripe Bananas

Yields the most delicious and deeply flavored banana cake that you won't get from just using yellow bananas. So put those brown-looking soggy bananas to good use instead of throwing them away.

sour cream banana cake recipe
Banana Bread made with white sugar

Brown Sugar vs White Sugar

Many banana bread recipes use either brown sugar or white sugar and sometimes both. But does it matter which one you use?

Yes, if you're making cookies. But for banana bread, you can definitely use both interchangeably.

brown sugar banana cake
Banana bread made with brown sugar

Banana bread made with brown sugar will be dark brown in color and denser compared to that made of white sugar. If you want it to have a slightly brown color, use both. Adjust measurement depending on the color you want to achieve.

How to Make It

And here's how to make banana bread:

step by step photo on how to make sour cream banana bread

A few things to note:

Let the brown butter cool completely before adding to the rest of the ingredients. Hot butter can cook the eggs thus ruining the entire recipe!

To properly dissolve the sugar, whisk it with the wet ingredients along with the mashed overripe bananas. This is what I always do when making cakes and muffins.

sour cream banana bread procedure

Sift the dry ingredients directly into the wet ingredients. There's no need for a separate bowl. Fold in nuts or chocolate chips (optional) after partially stirring the batter.

To remove air pockets in the batter, tap the loaf pan one to two times on your kitchen counter before baking.

Tips for a successful Banana Bread

  • Use room temperature ingredients, including sour cream and eggs. Bring it out from the fridge 1 hour before baking. Using cold ingredients can result to a flat and dense cake.
  • Do not overmix the batter. Overmixing can result in a denser, chewy cake.
  • To avoid overbaking, test doneness of the cake at around 50mins. If skewer doesn't come out clean, bake for a couple of more minutes. Mine was done at about 53 minutes. Let it cool completely before removing from the loaf pan.

Banana Bread Variations

  • Make it into muffins. This recipe yields 12-14 muffins. Line the muffin tin with liners or wipe/spray with vegetable oil before pouring the batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350f/180c.
  • Make it into a round cake for birthdays or special occasions. Grease a 9 inch round cake pan with vegetable oil and line with a parchment paper. Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350f/180c. Let it cool then frost if preferred. Try it with my small batch cream cheese frosting. It will be so good!
  • Add walnuts or semi-sweet chocolate chips. Fold it in the batter or sprinkle on top.
best Banana Bread recipe

What's a good substitute for Sour Cream

A good substitute for sour cream is unsweetened yogurt (plain/greek) and buttermilk (store-bought or homemade). Use full fat for a moist cake texture.

For homemade buttermilk: combine â…“ cup full-fat fresh milk and 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon. Let it sit for 10 minutes while it curdles.

Storage and Shelf-life

Place in an air-tight container or cover with foil or plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Banana bread is good for 1 day at normal room temperature and 1 week in the fridge if properly stored.

Frequently asked questions

How to prevent over mixing the cake batter?

Combine the liquid together with the sugar, and salt. Whisk thoroughly until the sugar has dissolved. Then and only then add the dry ingredients such as flour, cornstarch, and baking soda.

How to reheat banana bread?

Love your banana bread nice and warm as I do? There are a couple of ways to reheat it.
Oven (recommended for 1 whole loaf ): Wrap the banana bread in foil. Place in an oven and set the temperature at 350F. Heat for about 15-20 minutes.
Microwave (recommended for slices): Place in a microwave-safe container. Heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute depending on the thickness and the size of the bread. I always go for 30 seconds to make the bread nice and warm.

Can I use frozen bananas for banana bread?

Frozen bananas are overripe bananas. It's perfect for making banana bread. They're extra sweet and soft. And it's what I used in this recipe.
Tip: Defrost completely before using. You'll notice the brown liquid (see video). It's up to you if you want to save them. The juice can add more moisture to baked goods especially in this banana bread recipe. Drain off if preferred.

Recipe Video

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Complete Recipe

banana cake chocolate chips

One Bowl Sour Cream Banana Bread

This recipe makes moist and rich banana bread. The secret? Sour cream, brown butter, and overripe bananas. You can make the batter in one bowl. No mixer needed.
prep 10 mins
cook 55 mins
5 from 7 votes
author: Mella
Servings 8 -10 slices
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Ingredients
 
Cups - Metric

  • ⅓ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ cup - 1 ¾ cup overripe bananas (3-4pcs) (mashed)
  • 2 eggs
  • ¾ cup sugar (brown or white, see note 1)
  • ⅓ cup sour cream (see note 2)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 tablespoon cornstarch

Add-ins (see note 6):

  • ½ cup - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350f/ 180c. Grease loaf pan with oil or butter.
  • Place butter in a lightly-colored pan over medium heat. Once melted, lower the heat. Swirl and stir as it cooks to release the bubbles. Watch it carefully until color turns to a toasty brown. Immediately transfer to a heat-proof bowl and let it cool.
  • Place the bananas in a large bowl. Mash with a fork until slightly smooth. Add sugar and eggs then whisk to combine. Pour brown butter, vanilla, salt, and sour cream. Stir until everything is combined.
  • Sift flour, cornstarch, and baking soda onto the wet mixture. Stir until just combined. Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if using. DO NOT OVERMIX.
  • Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Tap in the kitchen counter to remove air pockets.
  • Bake for 50 minutes to 55 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Mine took exactly 53 minutes to get done. Let it cool for 15 minutes before removing it from the pan. Slice and serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes and Tips:

  1. Sugar: use brown or white interchangeably or both. If using both, I suggest using ½ cup brown sugar and ¼ cup white.
  2. Sour cream substitute:  Use plain full-fat or Greek yogurt or buttermilk–store-bought or homemade (see note 3).
  3. For homemade buttermilk: combine â…“ cup full-fat fresh milk and 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon. Let it sit for 10 minutes until it curdles.
  4. All ingredients should all be at room temperature including the eggs and sour cream to get the best result.
  5. Make it into muffins. This recipe yields 12-14 muffins. Line the muffin tin with liners or wipe/spray with vegetable oil before pouring the batter. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350f/177c.
  6. Make it into a round cake for birthdays or special occasions. Grease a 9 inch round cake pan with vegetable oil and line with parchment paper. Bake for 50-55 minutes at 350f/177c. Let it cool then frost if preferred. Try it with my small batch cream cheese frosting.
  7. Other add-ins: chopped walnuts or pecans.
  8. Storage/Shelf-life: Place in an air-tight container or cover with foil or plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Banana bread is good for 1 day at normal room temperature and 1 week in the fridge if properly stored.
  9. Calorie serving is per slice, excluding the chocolate chips.
Jump to Video
Course : Snack
Cuisine : Western
Keyword : best banana bread recipe, sour cream banana bread
Nutrition Facts
One Bowl Sour Cream Banana Bread
Amount per Serving
Calories
406
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
19
g
29
%
Saturated Fat
 
11
g
69
%
Cholesterol
 
77
mg
26
%
Sodium
 
237
mg
10
%
Potassium
 
269
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
54
g
18
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
28
g
31
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
501
IU
10
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
33
mg
3
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag @rivertenkitchen or leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John says

    November 23, 2020 at 11:59 pm

    5 stars
    I have made one yesterday (my first banana bread ever) and it is so good! The sweetness is just right and the bread is moist and tasty. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Mella!

    Reply
    • Mella says

      November 24, 2020 at 10:40 am

      That's awesome, John! So glad you enjoyed this recipe. It's also one of my favorites.
      - Mella

      Reply
  2. Jo says

    October 27, 2020 at 3:38 am

    5 stars
    What did you put in the overripe bananas on this video? Just wondering because it has liquids and brown in color. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Mella says

      October 27, 2020 at 10:50 am

      Hi Jo,
      That's the natural liquid from the bananas. I used frozen overripe bananas so it became watery after defrosting.
      - Mella

      Reply
  3. Indayrubi says

    September 10, 2020 at 11:15 pm

    5 stars
    Always baking this banana bread during my day off. I also make these in muffin version. Super sarap! Lagi nauubos! A hit in my household! Thanks for the recipe Mella!

    Reply
    • Mella says

      September 20, 2020 at 9:22 am

      That's awesome! Glad you and your family enjoyed this banana bread recipe.
      - Mella

      Reply
  4. Zell says

    September 10, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    5 stars
    My go to recipe for banana bread. Made it twice already! Soft and moist as it says on the recipe title. Another plus side is that it’s SUPER easy to make! Love love love it!

    Reply
  5. Cecil says

    May 31, 2020 at 8:25 pm

    Can I replace butter with Canola oil instead?

    Reply
    • Mella says

      June 01, 2020 at 12:23 am

      Hi Cecil, you can use canola oil but the texture and taste of the bread will be different.

      Reply
  6. Mongie says

    April 19, 2020 at 6:10 am

    I love it! Thank you for this recipe. It’s moist and delicious.

    Reply
    • Mella says

      April 19, 2020 at 10:21 pm

      You're very welcome! I'm so happy to hear that you loved my recipe.

      Reply
  7. Anne says

    April 08, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    5 stars
    hands down to this recipe?? my family loved it. we tried making it into a muffin and it was all goodness? thank you for the tips on making it moist and soft. I was scared to try the browning of butter at first as i might burn it. but turns out it thus really made a difference?? Thanks Mella

    Reply
    • Mella says

      April 08, 2020 at 11:23 pm

      I'm so glad you and your family loved it Anne! Browned butter makes a lot of difference, doesn't it? And it made the banana bread smell so good.

      Reply

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