Easy Cake Mix Banana Bread

This Easy Cake Mix Banana Bread recipe makes the BEST banana bread with cake mix, ripe bananas, eggs and applesauce. Moist, delicious and a great recipe for using up ripe bananas!

Easy Banana Bread Recipe with Cake Mix

If you are looking for an easy banana bread recipe, you’ll love this cake mix banana bread recipe. This 4 ingredient recipe makes moist banana bread that is absolutely delicious!

Homemade banana bread isn’t hard to make, but using cake mix makes it easier to throw everything together. Trust me, this short cut is perfect for busy mornings!

Because I wanted banana bread without oil, I added applesauce instead of oil or butter. I do the same with my banana applesauce muffins, and they taste great!

If you like cake mix recipes with bananas, you’ll want to try my 2 ingredient banana muffins, cake mix banana cookies and easy banana pumpkin cake! Be sure to check out more of my bread recipes.

Ingredients

You only need 4 simple ingredients for this quick bread recipe. You can find them in your grocery store if you don’t have these pantry staples on hand. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.

• Large bananas — 4 ripe bananas, about 1.5 cups, mashed
• Cake mix — box of yellow cake mix or vanilla cake mix or white cake mix. If you use a mix without vanilla, you may want to add a teaspoon of vanilla extract for flavor.
• Eggs
• Applesauce — unsweetened
• Ground cinnamon — optional, but adds flavor

You will also need a loaf pan or loaf pans to bake the bread. I used 2 8.5 x 4.5 loaf pans, which are standard size. For your convenience, the link is in the printable recipe card, along with step by step instructions.

Using 2 pans filled about 2/3rds full helps the bread bake faster than filling 1 pan all the way. But, it’s up to you.

How to Make Banana Bread with Cake Mix

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees f. Then, spray the bottom of your loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray.

You may want to sprinkle a little flour or cake mix on the bottom for easier release. I don’t do do this since the pans I use release easily.

Next, mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl. Use a fork or an electric mixer on low speed.

Add the remaining ingredients, and mix the batter until it’s well combined. Don’t over mix the batter. There will be lumps from the bananas, which is fine. Be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl so that everything is well mixed.

I added a few chocolate chips to one loaf to make chocolate chip banana bread. Some of us love chocolate!

I kept one loaf plain — for those who do not like chocolate chips in banana bread. You know who you are!

Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pans about 2/3rds full. If you’re using just one pan, go ahead and fill it up.

Baking Time

Bake banana bread in a preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. When done, a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf should come out fairly clean. It shouldn’t have goopy batter, but it may have banana or chocolate on it.

You can also test that bread is done with a cooking thermometer. When the temperature is 200 degrees f, it’s done.

If you’re baking the bread in 1 pan, the baking time is about 50 to 60 minutes. When you are using mini loaf pans, bake the bread for about 30 to 35 minutes.

For banana cupcakes, bake in a muffin tin for 18 to 20 minutes or until done. All ovens are different, so the perfect banana bread bake time may vary.

How to Store

Store loaves of banana bread in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap. Place a paper towel or parchment paper under the loaf to absorb moisture if you like. You can leave banana bread out at room temperature. No need to to refrigerate it, unless you want to.

This easy banana bread keeps for 3 to 4 days — if you can resist it for that long! It’s actually better the next day because the banana flavor deepens as it sits.

For longer storage, freeze banana bread. Just wrap the loaf of banana bread in plastic wrap and cover it with aluminum foil. For best results, consume it within 3 months.

Variations and Substitutions

There are several ways to customize this delicious banana bread recipe to your liking.

Use your favorite cake mix flavor. White cake mix and yellow cake mix are standard, but you can use strawberry cake mix, chocolate cake mix, butter pecan cake mix, or spice cake mix!

Make chocolate chip banana bread with semi sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or butterscotch chips for extra sweetness.

Instead of applesauce, use oil– olive oil or vegetable oil will work –or butter. But, you can also make this a 3 ingredient banana bread recipe by using only bananas, eggs, and cake mix. I’ve tried everything, and it’s all tasty!

This recipe makes vegan and gluten free banana bread, as long as you’re using vegan and gluten free cake mix!

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First published in 2022 and updated in 2024 with more information.