This 3 ingredient banana bread is so easy and delicious, no one ever guesses it’s made with a cake mix! You only need three ingredients—ripe bananas, eggs, and a boxed cake mix—and just five minutes to stir it all together before it goes into the oven.
It smells amazing while baking and has that warm, sweet banana flavor everyone loves. I’ve made this banana bread with yellow cake mix for years, but I recently tried it with spice cake mix, and the extra flavor was a game changer. Either version is soft, sweet, and perfect for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert.
If you like simple baking shortcuts, try my easy zucchini bread or my 3 ingredient chocolate banana muffins. Both are made with cake mix and are just as quick and tasty! If craving chocolate chips with your bread, you will love this easy banana bread with chocolate chips!
Table of contents
Why I love this recipe
This is a delicious and quick sweet bread. You only need three things to make this. Cake mix, ripe bananas, and eggs are all you need! I have recently started making it with spice cake and I love the flavor so much!
You do not add oil to this recipe. The bananas and eggs make up for the oil. This is a great recipe when you are trying to cut down on additional oil in your diet.
This simple banana bread is made in one bowl. I love it when you don't have a bunch of dishes to wash when you bake!
The taste and texture are what you anticipate when you smell it baking. Your home smells so good and inviting when you are baking this.
I always end up having extra bananas that are on my counter. This is the perfect recipe to use up any bananas you have that are getting a little over-ripe. I love not wasting the bananas and love how inexpensive this recipe is to make!
Ingredients
Yes! Only 3 ingredients so this is an inexpensive, quick and delicious recipe! There is a good chance these ingredients are already in your home!
Spice Cake Mix - I love making easy cake mix recipes with Betty Crocker mixes. I've used them for years and they always work! You can certainly use your favorite cake mix or what is readily available (or even homemade mix).
Eggs - Two large eggs help bind the ingredients. I recommend taking them out of the fridge prior to starting so they are closer to room temperature.
Tip - Room-temperature Eggs blend into the batter more evenly and help the loaf rise highter. If you want to raise the temperature of eggs quickly, put them into a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes.
Looking for super easy delicious recipes? Sign up and I'll send them!
Bananas - They add natural sweetness and flavor. Plus, we don't add any oil in this recipe. The bananas are a substitute for the oil here. That's a big plus, don't you think?
Yellow Cake Mix Banana Bread
I used to use yellow cake mix but was never a fan of how it looked. Tasted great though!! I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use yellow cake mix BUT, my preference is now using spice cake mix. See how yellow the loaf below is?
Flavor additions (optional)
Adding 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon adds a nice cinnamon flavor.
My kids love when I add 1 cup chocolate chips. I had a few questions about the chocolate chips being in or on the bread so I wrote out the instructions for this recipe but with chocolate chips IN the bread and on it - chocolate chip banana bread.
Do you like a little crunch? Pecan or walnut pieces are also wonderful in this simple bread.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350ºF. I'm using a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Prepare the loaf pan by adding parchment paper cut to size. I also spray it with some no-stick spray. It makes the loaf so easy to take out!
Step 1
Peel 3 medium bananas and mash. I use a mixer to 'mash' this since it's faster and easier. Make sure to leave it just a little lumpy so there still is some banana pieces. It should not be a smooth batter.
Step 2
Add eggs and give it a quick mix (either by hand or with a hand mixer).
Step 3
Add the cake mix and stir (or use mixer) until just mixed. Do not overmix or attempt to mix it until smooth.
Step 4
Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 50 minutes in the 350º oven. Check with a toothpick to determine if done.
Step 5
Allow to cool for 10 minutes in loaf pan. Pull out loaf by using parchment paper and place onto a wire rack to cool. The banana bread can be sliced (and is delicious) while still warm.
To Serve
I like to sprinkle just a touch of powdered sugar on the top. It just gives a little more interest to the finished bread.
Storage
This yellow cake banana bread will be fine on the counter (wrapped) for three days. It will last up to a week in the fridge. This quick bread can be frozen for up to 3 months if well-wrapped.
FAQs
Here is a very similar three-ingredient recipe where I make easy but delicious banana muffins. It's similar to this recipe and takes less time to bake because muffins are smaller.
The other common-sized loaf pans are 8 ½ x 4 ½ inches. I would recommend making 2 loaves if using the smaller loaf pans. Reduce the baking time to approximately 40 minutes and test with a toothpick to see when it's done.
Some ovens are hotter than others. I would recommend putting an oven safe thermometer in yours to see what the actual temperature is vs. the temperature you are setting it to. My last oven was 10º hotter than it was supposed to be so I always set the temperature 10º lower.
A tip: if you are nervous about over-baking something. Test with a toothpick 10 minutes prior to the recommended completion time.
Other Delicious 3 Ingredient Recipes
Easy Three Ingredient Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 Package spice cake I like Betty Crocker
- 2 large eggs
- 3 medium bananas ripe or over-ripe
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. My loaf pan is 9 x 5 inches.
- Peel 3 medium bananas and mash. Mash bananas until there are small chunks. You do not want a smooth texture because you want to see bits of banana in the banana bread.
- Add two large eggs and mix into bananas.
- Add cake mix into egg and banana mixture. Stir in until just mixed. You do NOT add any of the other ingredients listed on the back of the box.
- Bake until toothpick comes out clean from the middle. This normally takes 50 minutes in my oven.
- Let cool for 10 minutes after removing from the oven. Use the parchment paper to lift out of loaf pan and place on a wire rack to cool.Can be sliced when warm. I find cutting this in 12 gives nice sized slices.
Notes
Storage
This banana bread will be fine on the counter (wrapped) for three days. It will last up to a week in the fridge. This quick bread can be frozen for up to 3 months if well wrapped.FAQs
Nutrition (I am not a nutritionist. These are estimates only)
Emilia R. Gonzales
Love your recipes! Thank you for sharing.