3 Ingredient Banana Bread, sounds crazy right? It's fluffy, sweet, and subtle in flavor and I'm honestly unsure of whether or not it's a dessert or snack.
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you’ll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Making banana bread with cake mix is a simple and mouthwatering way to enjoy the delightful combination of ripe bananas and cake mix. This recipe offers a shortcut to moist and flavorful banana bread.
The star of this banana bread is the cake mix, which adds sweetness and flavor without extra sugar or spices. Just combine the cake mix with ripe bananas and eggs.
The result is a soft, cake like banana bread that works well for breakfast, brunch, or a snack.
This recipe is great for beginners or anyone needing a quick dessert, and it's an easy way to use up overripe bananas. The simple steps deliver reliable results every time. For more banana bread ideas, try Oreo Banana Bread, Eggless Banana Bread, Pumpkin Banana Bread, or Red Velvet Banana Bread.
Jump to:
💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Super simple. Traditional banana bread takes more ingredients and steps. This version uses just 3 ingredients and 3 steps.
- Cheap. A box of cake mix costs about $1, and overripe bananas are often already on hand. It's an affordable option if you enjoy recipes made with boxed cake mix.
- Minimal effort. There's very little measuring or mixing, and you still get a soft, fluffy banana bread in about an hour.
🛒 Ingredients
Boxed cake mix. Any flavor works, but yellow cake mix highlights the banana flavor best.
Ripe bananas. Use very ripe bananas with brown spots or blackened skins for the best moisture and flavor.
If you have extra bananas, try our Sour Cream Banana Pound Cake.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Cake mix flavors. Swap the boxed cake mix to change the flavor. Chocolate cake mix makes a rich chocolate banana bread, and other flavors work just as well. A gluten free box mix can also be used if needed.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Using overripe bananas: This helps prevent food waste and adds natural sweetness without extra ingredients.
Store-brand cake mix: Generic mixes work perfectly here and keep the overall cost low.
Minimal ingredients: With only three ingredients, this recipe keeps grocery spending and prep time to a minimum.
🥄 Instructions for 3 Ingredient Banana Bread
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease (2) 8x4 bread loaf pans.
Step 2: Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
Step 3: Whisk together to combine.
Step 4: Pour the batter into greased bread pans.
Step 5: Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Pan size. Use two 8×4 loaf pans for best results. This will yield two loaves that may be slightly shorter than traditional banana bread. Grease the pans well to prevent sticking.
- Flavor variations. For extra flavor, mix in about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, chocolate chips, or other add ins of your choice.
❄️ Storage, Freezing & Make Ahead
Storage: Keep 3 Ingredient Banana Bread airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Wrap tightly and freeze up to 3 months.
Make Ahead: Bake and freeze for easy breakfasts or snacks later.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This 3 Ingredient Banana Bread pairs well with butter, peanut butter, or a drizzle of honey for breakfast. It also goes nicely with coffee, tea, or a glass of milk for a simple snack. For dessert, serve it slightly warm with whipped topping or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Banana Oreo MilkshakeRecipe $2.15
- Instant Pot ApplesauceRecipe $4.17 / Serving $0.69
- Peanut Butter Mason Jar Ice CreamRecipe $0.83
- Puff Pastry Egg TartsRecipe $4.98 / Serving $0.83
❓ Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Just thaw them before mixing them into the batter and use as directed! You may want to use an electric mixer to help break up any banana chunks. Once thawed, frozen bananas will get extra juices in the freezer bags, toss that in with the solid bananas.
Yes, you can! After your loaf has cooled completely, wrap it well and keep it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you use a dairy free box cake mix, it can be! Some brands (like Duncan Hines, offer dairy free cake mixes. Just check the ingredient label on the back of the box to be sure!
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
- Sour Cream Banana BreadRecipe $2.50 / Serving $0.25
- Oreo Banana BreadRecipe $4.43 / Serving $0.44
- Stovetop Banana BreadRecipe $1.64 / Serving $0.21
- Mango Banana BreadRecipe $4.26 / Serving $0.43
🐝 If you tried this 3 Ingredient Banana Bread, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
3 Ingredient Banana Bread
Equipment
- Whisk or electric mixer
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix - ($1.00)
- 1 ½ cup mashed ripe bananas, about 2 to 3 bananas - ($0.75)
- 2 large eggs - ($0.30)
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease two 8 by 4 inch loaf pans.
- Mix Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, mashed bananas, and eggs until smooth.
- Bake: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the loaves cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Pan Sizes: Use two 8×4-inch loaf pans or one 9×5-inch loaf pan. A 9×5 pan will need about 50 minutes of bake time; check for doneness near the end.
- Flavor Add-Ins: Enhance the batter with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, chocolate chips, nuts, or other mix-ins.
- Cake Mix Options: Any boxed cake mix works, yellow, chocolate, red velvet, or spice. Using a dairy-free cake mix makes this recipe dairy-free.
- Muffin Option: Bake standard muffins for 15-18 minutes or mini muffins for 12 minutes.
- Storage & Freezing: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Wrap tightly and freeze loaves for up to 3 months.
Nutritional Information
Save This Recipe to Your Inbox
Enter your email and we'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you'll join our email list and can unsubscribe anytime.
Sussn says
Very easy to make and it turns out very moist..You can add to this recipe or you can make it like it is. I had fun and followed the recipe exactly for the first batch. The second batch, I added a teaspoon of vanilla and cinnamon along with three eggs instead of two. For the third batch, I added cinnamon and pineapple. For the fourth batch, I added chocolate chips. All the breads turned out delicious and very moist. This is a recipe that you could play with and make it as is or use your imagination and add to it. Thank you for sharing.
Nicole Durham says
I'm glad you liked it!
Anneke Corriveau says
I had 3 pretty ripe bananas and found your recipe. I only had a pecan cake mix and way past expiration date, nevertheless I added some cinnamon sugar and they look and smell amazing.
Nicole Durham says
That sounds incredibly delicious!
Jill H says
I used a larger pan with all batter. It took 50+ minutes to bake at 350 degrees. Added cinnamon & cream cheese frosting.