Slow Cooker Banana Bread
14 Comments Apr 14, 2023
Updated Nov 30, 2024
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Banana bread in the slow cooker? Absolutely! This simple banana bread recipe yields a perfectly cooked loaf without the need for loaf pans, additional prep, or the fear of burning anything. Grab your kitchen staples and this classic recipe and get ready to wow your family and friends.
This banana bread isn’t the only mouth-watering bread you can cook in your crock pot. Try my delicious Slow Cooker Coconut Bread Pudding or my Gingerbread Cake.
Can I make banana bread in a crockpot?
“Baking” bread in the slow cooker isn’t always a person’s go-to meal idea, and rightfully so. Most people think of soups and casseroles, but the fact of the matter is you can absolutely make delicious banana bread in your crockpot.
This is one of those slow cooker recipes that makes making banana bread easy peasy. No extra ingredients or steps are needed and you’ll have yummy banana bread in as little as 2 hours of cooking time. Other recipes we love making with bananas are banana pudding and banana jam!
Recipe Ingredients
- Bananas: As with any delicious recipe, ripe bananas or overripe bananas are some of the best ones to use. If you have bananas “going bad,” use them to whip up a loaf of this banana bread.
- Dry Ingredients Ingredients: All purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt are all classic bread recipe ingredients.
- Wet Ingredients: You’ll need brown sugar, buttermilk, eggs, butter, and vanilla to finish off what’s needed to make the most tender banana bread.
- {The full recipe is in the recipe card below the photos}
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Step Two – In another large bowl, add the brown sugar and butter.
Step Three – Use an electric handheld mixer to cream the brown sugar and butter together. Then, add the egg, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract.
Step Four – Mix until smooth.
Step Five – Add in the dry mixture.
Step Six – Mix until smooth, then mix in the buttermilk.
Step Seven – Line the slow cooker with parchment paper (or slow cooker liner). I trace the bottom of the slow cooker and cut just slightly larger.
Step Eight – Pour in the banana bread mix and spread out evenly.
Step Nine – Cover and bake on HIGH for 2 hours. The timing may vary depending on how hot your slow cooker gets.
Serving Ideas
- For regular banana bread, serve sliced and as is. This makes the perfect midday snack.
- To spruce it up a bit, serve a slice with softened cream cheese, butter, peanut butter or icing.
- You can toast the banana bread in the toaster before adding any of the above toppings.
- Banana bread also pairs perfectly with yogurt, fruit preserves or compote.
Recipe FAQs
Always use a crockpot-safe liner such as parchment paper. There are also special “bags” that can be used. Though, if you use enough cooking spray, you do not need to use parchment paper or a liner.
In my opinion, I believe it is better, both in flavor and texture. You also don’t have to worry about your kitchen getting hot from having the oven on.
You can’t go wrong with adding milk chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, or other chopped nuts of your choice. Drizzling maple syrup on top is also good and will give it a sweeter taste.
Put any remaining bread in an airtight container and keep on the countertop for up to one week. You can also freeze banana bread for up to 3 months. Allow it to defrost completely before serving. I like to freeze my banana bread (and slow cooker pumpkin bread) in individual pieces wrapped in foil.
More Slow Cooker Breads and Cakes:
- Slow Cooker Zucchini Bread
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Bread
- Slow Cooker Banana Nut Cake
- Slow Cooker Caramel Cake
Slow Cooker Banana Bread
How to Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 cup salted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar, light or dark
- 3 medium sized bananas
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper. (you can forgo the parchment, but be sure to spray the slow cooker well).
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar using an electric handheld mixer. Put the bananas onto a dinner plate and mash with a fork or potato masher until a uniform paste forms. Add the bananas into the batter and mix again until smooth. Mix in 1 egg at a time and add the vanilla extract.
- Add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients and pour in the buttermilk, stir together using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.
- Pour the batter into the slow cooker and spread evenly.
- Cook on HIGH For 2 hours. You may need to cook a little longer or less, depending on how hot your crockpot cooks.
- Allow to cool completely before removing from the slow cooker and slicing. Enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- You want to use an oval slow cooker for this recipe for the center may not set with a larger slow cooker.
- The banana bread can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 days in a zip top bag or airtight container
- You can’t go wrong with adding milk chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, or other chopped nuts of your choice. Drizzling maple syrup on top is also good and will give it a sweeter taste.
- For regular banana bread, serve sliced and as is. This makes the perfect midday snack.
- To spruce it up a bit, serve a slice with softened cream cheese, butter, peanut butter or icing.
- You can toast the banana bread in the toaster before adding any of the above toppings.
- Banana bread also pairs perfectly with yogurt, fruit preserves or compote.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Fun and easy to make. I substituted 1/20 of the butter with cream cheese and did not use buttermilk. I also made a streusel from crushed cashew and cream cheese with brown sugar and topped the banana bread during cooking. I set the slow cooker to warm while I mixed the ingredients. I took your advice and sprayed the crock and cut a perfect oval of wax paper for the bottom (it flipped out on a plate easy!) I then set it to high for 1 hour and 45 minutes. It’s was very brown but perfect at that time. Wow does the house smell good! I then turned it off and took the crock out of the cooker and set it on a rack with no lid for 5 minutes. There was a lot of moisture on the lid, so I dumped it back on the bread lol. I have two 20 year olds here – no worry about shelf life. It flipped out so easy and I peeled the wax paper off and righted it for pics. I’ll tag you on insta! Thanks
Delicious banana bread. Thanks for great recipe that doesn’t heat the kitchen. I added a dash of nutmeg. Grandson loves it!
How much is a cup of butter in grams? Greetings from Denmark
Thank you for your recipes from Spain , they are great!!!
I have used two bananas and one apple, yummy!!
Best regards to you.
Is there anything else you can use besides buttermilk? I’ve never heard of it before.
You can use one cup of milk and a teaspoon of lemon juice or white vinegar.
Haven’t tried it yet. How old must the bananas be. Some people say on it’s way of getting bad. close to throwing them out. Ripe will do? Thank you
You can make this with ripe bananas! Just as long as they’re not too green to peel. It will be just fine.
Please test this is a round crockpot.
I don’t test my desserts in round crockpot, they tend to burn on the edges before being done in the center. I apologize.
If using a crock pot liner bag, do you need to spray the inside of the bag? how do you make buttermilk for a third of a cup, using white vinegar? Thank You.
No need to spray the inside of the bag. I would use 1/3 cup milk with one teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice.
Can a 4 quart CP be used?
Yes, as long as it’s oval. I have not tested in a round crockpot, I’m unsure if it will set in the middle.