Go Back

Mrs. Myers' Banana Bread

Mrs Myers banana bread is a classic Southern banana loaf with a deeply golden, cracked top and a moist, old-fashioned crumb. This traditional banana loaf uses creamed butter or shortening and a simple flour-soda-salt mix for a tender slice.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 340
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Banana bread base
  • 3 ripe bananas Mashed
  • 0.5 cup shortening or butter Softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp milk

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep the pan and preheat
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease and flour a 9x5 loaf pan, so the loaf releases cleanly.
Make the batter
  1. Cream shortening or butter with sugar until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes, for a tender crumb.
  2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each, until the mixture looks smooth and evenly combined.
  3. Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla until combined, with no dry banana streaks visible.
  4. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together, then fold into the banana mixture alternating with the milk.
Bake and cool
  1. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a gentle visual level cue.
  2. Bake at 350°F for 60–70 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and the top is a deep golden brown.
  3. Cool in the pan 15 minutes before turning out, so the loaf firms up and holds its shape.
  4. Rest fully before slicing for the cleanest cut, with the slice staying moist and intact.

Notes

Pro tip: mash bananas until mostly smooth with just a few small lumps for that old-fashioned texture. Store the wrapped loaf at room temperature up to 3 days or in the refrigerator up to 5 days; freezer yes—wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months. For a lighter swap, use butter instead of shortening to keep the classic Southern banana bread flavor while reducing the need for purely solid fat.