Soft and moist banana bread made easy without baking soda needed! Perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack. Packed with banana flavor!
If you have some ripe bananas but no baking soda, fear not! You can still have soft and fluffy homemade banana bread.
This recipe is simple and fast making it a great last minute treat for the family.
My boys help me out baking all the time, it’s fun for them and I love the extra quality time. I grew up helping in the kitchen and I cherish every opportunity to do the same with my kids.
And this recipe is simple enough even the younger kids can help so feel free to let the kiddos join in the baking fun.
Yes, You Can Make Banana Bread Without Using Baking Soda!

Baking soda plays an important role in the baking of quick breads. But because we do not have any, we need a leavening replacement.
In this recipe you have the choice of two baking soda substitutes. Pick whichever you have on hand.
Banana Bread: Baking Soda Substitutes
Baking powder: Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar and can be used as a replacement for baking soda. For each teaspoon of soda called for in a recipe use three teaspoons of powder.
For this recipe use 3 teaspoons of baking powder.
Active Dry Yeast: Yeast can be used as a replacement for baking soda in a quick bread. One packet of yeast can be added with your wet ingredients. Simply place a towel over your bowl and place in a warm spot. Wait for dough to double in size and then complete your recipe.
You can also complete this recipe without either of these if you do not have them on hand. Keep in mind that your bread will not be as big, but it will still taste great.
How to make banana bread if you don’t have baking soda
This simple banana bread is perfect as is, or with any of your favorite add on flavors (you can find some fun and tasty ideas below). Prep is only about fifteen minutes and bake time is about seventy minutes and it makes on loaf.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 4 Bananas (Ripe and Mashed)
- 1/2 Cup Butter (Softened)
- 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Large Eggs
- 3 tsp. Baking Powder or 1 Packet of Yeast (if using yeast let dough rise before baking)
- Dash of Salt
Start out by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and spray your loaf pan.
Add your sugar and butter to a mixing bowl and mix until creamy. Then add in your crushed bananas, vanilla extract, and eggs and mix until completely combined then set aside.
Grab a different mixing bowl and stir together your dry ingredients. While mixing by hand, gradually add your dry mixture to your wet and mix until evenly combined.
Stir in any desired added ingredients and then pour your dough into your loaf pan.
Bake for fifty-five minutes to an hour and ten minutes. Your banana bread is done when an inserted toothpick comes out clean (or with no moist dough).
Allow your bread to cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Banana Bread Without Baking Soda
Equipment
- Hand Mixer
- Loaf Pan
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 1½ Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 4 Ripe Bananas Mashed
- ½ Cup Butter Softened
- 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Large Eggs
- Dash Salt
- 3 tsp. Baking Powder or 1 Packet of Yeast
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease loaf pan.
- In a mixing bowl, add sugar and butter and mix until creamy.
- Add crushed bananas, vanilla extract, and eggs and whisk by hand until well combined. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl add your dry ingredients and stir. (if using yeast do not add until after mixing all ingredients together)
- Gradually add your dry mixture to your wet while whisking by hand. Combine well but do not overbeat.
- Pour dough into loaf pan and bake for 55-70 minutes. Bread is done when inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool bread on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- If you are adding any additional flavors to your dough, do so after combining all other ingredients. Simply stir them in or top your dough before baking.
Nutrition
Flavor Ideas
This bread is already great as is but you can also add more great flavors to make it your own. I’ve dressed my banana bread in a lot of different ways and while not all were winners, here are some of my favorites to try.
- Nuts: Classic walnut and pecan. I also really like pistachio
- Chocolate chips
- Caramel chips (do chocolate and caramel)
- Carrot chunks
- Coconut flakes and chocolate chunks
- Other fruit: berries are my favorite
- And even protein powder if you’re looking for a sweet way to boost your protein intake
- Butter (my father always said a good banana bread doesn’t need anything else)