This sourdough discard banana bread is so incredibly soft and bursting with banana flavor. Don't let your extra sourdough discard, or overripe bananas, go to waste anymore.
What is there not to love about banana bread? It has to be the best and most popular quick bread. And for good reason.
This recipe is a great way to use both your leftover sourdough starter discard and those overly ripe bananas. It's just like traditional banana bread, but with a twist.
Have ripe banana but not quite ready to make this recipe? Thats okay, learn how to freeze your banana for later.
This version of banana bread has all the classic flavors and tastes or regular banana bread but is made with an unfed sourdough starter or what is typically called the discard.
Learn everything you need to know about a sourdough starter discard and other discard recipes to try.
Do you love quick breads? Give this sourdough discard pumpkin bread or a sourdough zucchini bread a try. Or maybe cookies are more your thing. See my sourdough oatmeal cookies or sourdough chocolate brownie cookies.
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⭐Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: This bread is really simple to make and takes little effort.
- Uses pantry staples: Nothing crazy in this recipe. It calls for simple pantry and refrigerator items.
- Great use of discard: Stop throwing away your discard and put it to work in this sourdough banana bread.
- Uses up overly ripe bananas: Also stop throwing away banana your kids wont eat. Make them this banana bread instead.
📝Tips to Make it Better
Use overly ripe banana: Make sure the banana are turning brown and ripe. This will make the bread softer and the bananas easier to mash.
Cream the butter and sugar: Make sure these two ingredients are completely combined before moving on. It should be soft, creamy and zero butter lumps. Do not move on until this is accomplished.
Don't overmix: Once the eggs are added just mix the batter until the ingredients are combined. Overtaxing will lead to very dense bread.
🥘Ingredients Needed
All-Purpose Flour: This recipe calls for all-purpose flour. While bread flour can be used it will turn out more dense.
When measuring the flour make sure to scoop flour out with a spoon into the measuring cup and level with a knife.
Overly Ripe Bananas: This recipe calls for about 2 cups of mashed bananas. That will be about 4 larger size bananas. The softer the banana the better. If they are too firm it will be difficult to mash.
Unsalted Butter: Make sure butter is soft and at room temperature. The butter and sugar need to be creamed together. Softer butter will allow it to come to a creamy consistency. You shouldn't see any lumps of butter.
See full information on ingredients and quantities in the recipe card.
🍌How to Make
Prepare the Batter
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Prepare a 9"x5" nonstick loaf pan by spraying with non-stick spray or a coating of butter with a dusting of flour. Whichever way you prefer to prepare baking pans. Set aside.
Step 3: In a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Set aside. (Image 3)
Step 4: In a large glass bowl, mix together the butter and sugar with a hand mixer until it's fully combined and has a soft, fluffy texture. (Image 4)
Step 5: Next, add in the yogurt, sourdough starter, and vanilla extract. Mix well with a hand mixer until everything is fully combined. (Image 5)
Step 6: Add in eggs and mix again with the hand mixer just until they are fully incorporated. Don't overmix from this point. (Image 6)
Step 7: In a medium bowl mash bananas with a fork until they are a creamy consistency. Some smaller lumps are okay. The softer the bananas are the easier they will be to mash. (Image 7)
Step 8: With a wooden spoon or spatula, fold in the mashed bananas just until everything is fully incorporated. (Image 8)
Step 9: Dump in the flour mixture, and with a wooden spoon, fold everything together until the flour is fully incorporated.
Use a spoon or spatula at this point because we don't want to overmix the batter. That can lead to a dense texture. (Image 9)
Step 10: Pour batter into the prepared 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and using a spoon or spatula scrape the bottom of the bowl so all the batter makes it in the pan. (Image 10)
⏰Baking Instructions
Step 11: Before baking, give the pan a good shake so the batter settles and is evenly distributed. The top of the batter should be even and as smooth as possible. You can also use a spatula to spread it out.
Step 12: Place pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes.
Top Tip: If the top of the bread starts to turn get a little too dar, make a tent out of tin foil and place it over the top. This will allow the inside of the bread to continue to cook but will protect the top from burning.
The bread is done when a toothpick is inserted into the center of the loaf and comes out clean.
Step 13: When done, place the pan on a wire rack and allow the bread to cool inside the pan for 10 minutes. (Image 12)
Take a knife and run it between the bread and the side of the pan. Just to get any piece that may be stuck.
Remove loaf from the pan and allow it to cool. If you can wait...
Slice and serve with a little butter and enjoy!
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Yes this bread is great to freeze. Wait until the bread is completely cool before wrapping tightly in aluminum foil, and then place in a gallon zip lock bag or airtight container. Make sure to remove as much air as possible and stick it in the freezer.
If you have some inactive, unfed starter do not throw it away! Add it to recipes like this banana bread. Banana bread doesn't require a lot of leavening to get it to rise properly so when the discard is paired with baking soda it will give the bread perfect texture.
While this bread is great on it's own, things like chocolate chips, walnuts or dried fruit can easily be added.
🍪Other Sourdough Discard Recipes
📋Recipe
Sourdough Discard Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 & ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour - Scooped and leveled.
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 Stick (½ Cup) Unsalted Butter - Softened
- ¾ Cup Granulated Sugar
- ¼ Cup Full Fat Yogurt
- 1 Cup Sourdough Starter Discard - 12-24 hours after feeding
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 2 Large Eggs
- 4 Large Very ripe, soft bananas - Will equal about 2 cups of mashed bananas.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare a loaf pan by spraying with non-stick spray or a coating of butter with a dusting of flour. Whichever way you prefer to prepare baking pans. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large glass bowl, mix together the butter and sugar with a hand mixer until it's fully combined and has a soft, fluffy texture.
- Next, add in the yogurt, sourdough starter and vanilla extract. Mix well with a hand mixer until everything is fully combined.
- Add in eggs and mix again with the hand mixer just until they are fully incorporated. Don't overmix.
- In a medium bowl mash bananas with a fork until they are a creamy consistency. Some smaller lumps are okay. The softer the bananas are the easier they will be to mash.
- With a wooden spoon or spatula, fold in the mashed bananas just until everything is fully incorporated.
- Dump in the flour mixture, and with a wooden spoon, fold everything together until the flour is fully incorporated. Use a spoon or spatula at this point because we don't want to overmix the batter. That can lead to a dense texture.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and using a spoon or spatula scrape the bottom of the bowl so all the batter makes it in the pan.
- Give the pan a good shake so the batter settles and is evenly distributed.
- Place pan in the oven and bake for 55-60 minutes.
- About halfway through if the top of the bread starts to turn brown, make a tent out of tin foil and place it over the top. This will allow the inside of the bread to continue to cook but will protect the top from burning.
- The bread is done when a toothpick is inserted in the middle and comes out clean.
- When done, place the pan on a cooling rack and allow the bread to cool inside the pan for 10 minutes.
- Take a knife and run it between the bread and the side of the pan. Just to get any piece that may be stuck.
- Remove loaf from the pan and allow it to cool.
- Slice and serve with a little butter and enjoy!
Notes
- When measuring the flour make sure to scoop flour out with a spoon into the measuring cup and level with a knife.
- This recipe calls for about 2 cups of mashed bananas. That will be about 4 larger size bananas. The softer the banana the better. If they are too firm it will be difficult to mash.
- Make sure butter is soft and at room temperature. The butter and sugar need to be creamed together. Softer butter will allow it to come to a creamy consistency. You shouldn't see any lumps of butter.
- Use overly ripe banana: Make sure the banana are turning brown and ripe. This will make the bread softer and the bananas easier to mash.
- Cream the butter and sugar: Make sure these two ingredients are completely combined before moving on. It should be soft, creamy and zero butter lumps. Do not move on until this is accomplished.
- Don't overmix: Once the eggs are added just mix the batter until the ingredients are combined. Overtaxing will lead to very dense bread.
- Make Tin Foil Tent: If the top of the loaf starts to get too dark make a little tent out of tin foil and lightly cover the bread. This will keep the top from browning but the center still cooks.
Austin
first time on your blog, and I'll be back for more recipes! this was delicious. I chose this recipe over another because it uses a whole cup of discard instead of only a half cup. gotta use up that discard! thank you 🙂
Kristin
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the banana bread! I agree with you on the discard. I always try to use at least a full cup.
Tani
This is my first time seeing a sourdough discard banana bread recipe, can't wait to try this as my children love banana bread and I have been getting into sourdough, thanks!
Kristin @ Dirt & Dough
My kids love it as well. It's a perfect recipe to get started with. Very simple to make. Hope you enjoy it!
Hollyn
This looks delicious! I have several bananas that are past their prime and was just thinking banana bread sounded perfect. Using sourdough discard to make the bread is even better! Thanks for this recipe! 🙂
Kristin @ Dirt & Dough
You are welcome! I hope you enjoy it.
Kimberly
I love finding new ways of using sourdough starter! Thank you for the recipe!
Kristin @ Dirt & Dough
I love finding ways to put it to work as well! I hope you enjoy it.
julie
I love banana bread. This is great because I never liked the idea of throwing out sourdough discard!
Kristin @ Dirt & Dough
I agree! I do not like tossing discard as well.
Meggie Farmer
Yum!! I will make this today! I have some bananas that need to be used up and some starter that needs a place to go as well! Thank you for this recipe! 🙂
Kristin @ Dirt & Dough
Such a great way to put both ingredients to work. Would love to hear what you think!
Sadie
This looks delicious! I'm super excited to try this one out! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Kristin @ Dirt & Dough
Thank you, Sadie! I hope you love it. Let me know how it turns out.