The Softest Sour Cream Banana Bread

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Hi Bold Bakers!

Are you ready for the moistest, easiest banana bread ever baked? Then you have to try my recipe for The Softest Sour Cream Banana Bread! 

I love this simple recipe for so many reasons. The addition of sour cream (you can even make Homemade Sour Cream!) makes the bread so soft, without thinning the batter, and prevents over-browning. The acid in the sour cream tenderizes the gluten in the flour creating such a lovely moist bread. On top of that, it helps activate the baking soda — and this loaf really shows how that works! It bakes up so huge and lovely in the loaf pan.

I also use brown sugar instead of white sugar for this recipe, which adds a beautiful caramel flavor, and also keeps this banana bread moist. There’s nothing worse than a loaf of dry banana bread, right?

Grab your ripe bananas! 

[ Looking for the very best in banana bread? Make my Best-Ever Banana Bread recipe! ]

What Is Sour Cream Banana Bread?

Sour cream banana bread is a super moist banana bread that’s bursting with banana, caramel, and cinnamon flavors! It’s perfect for a sweet breakfast, with a smear of butter, or as a dessert after lunch, or eaten right at the counter just because you can — and, obviously, it uses sour cream as an ingredient to achieve all this. Sour cream is an acid which tenderizes the gluten in the flour and creates a perfectly soft bread. 

What You Need To Make Sour Cream Banana Bread

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• 9 x 5 inch (23 x 13cm) loaf pan
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls

How To Make Sour Cream Banana Bread

A couple of bowls, a loaf pan, and 4 bananas are all you need. Here’s how you make it (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below.):

1. In a large bowl, mix mashed bananas, melted butter, sour cream, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.
2. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. 
3. Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Don’t overmix! This will make your bread tough, and nobody wants a tough bread.
4. Pour the batter into a buttered 9 x 5 inch (23 x 13cm) loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for about 1 1/2 hours until a wooden skewer comes out clean after being inserted into the loaf center.
6. Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

How NOT To Make Banana Bread

Despite the easiness of this recipe, there are in fact ways to make mistakes when whipping up a loaf. Let me break down the most common things people get wrong, so you can avoid them and sail straight to success. Find that information here in my master Best-Ever Banana Bread recipe!

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Sour Cream Banana Bread

• Feel free to stir in 1 cup of chopped nuts or 1 cup of chocolate chips (why not both?) into the bread just after adding the flour. This won’t change the baking time.
• For the best rise, use room temperature ingredients. 
• No sour cream? Make your own here! 
• If you can’t find sour cream or don’t want to make your own, use yogurt. Or make your own Homemade Yogurt!
• The riper the banana, the better. Go for the soft, overly ripe bananas here. Allow them to ripen on your counter until their skin is very brown! 

How Do I Store Sour Cream Banana Bread?

It can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. This banana bread also keeps wonderfully in the freezer. You can store sour cream banana bread in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Before serving, defrost it at room temperature in the container for 2 hours. 

Make More Banana Bread!

• Gemma’s Best-Ever Banana Bread
• Mia’s Banana Nut Bread
• The Fastest Way To Make Banana Bread

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

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Almond Flour Banana Bread Recipe

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How to Make Chocolate Pastry

Traditional Italian Easter Bread (Pane di Pasqua)