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4 Ingredient Banana Bread

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This 4 ingredient banana bread using cake mix is a great breakfast, dessert or snack! A quick banana bread recipe using overripe bananas we love.

4 Ingredient Banana Bread

I love easy cake mix recipes! What is in that box is just begging to be amped up in one way or another and this 4 ingredient banana bread is a great example of just what you can do with spice cake mix! You can use any variety you like, but this is a great combination! Perfect for breakfast or to include in your brunch menu, you can throw this together in no time at all.

I have made this easy banana bread recipe when they’re still pretty yellow and it works find. The browner the better though really.

bananas

If you’re tired of “the same old thing” I suggest you try this one! You can make a bunch of varieties depending on the type of cake mix you use. The one I like the best is spice if you ask me but others have enjoyed vanilla and yellow mixes too with this.

  • This easy banana bread recipe has just been added to this list as well as a bunch of others.
  • It is perfect if you have a box of cake mix, but not a lot of other ingredients in your pantry.

4-Ingredient banana bread

4 Ingredient Banana Bread

Have you ever used cake mix to make….well, something other than a cake??!! Seriously, it is really versatile and can be used to make more than just 6 cupcakes as a treat. If you’re looking for angel food cake mix recipes we have a bunch of those too!

White or spice cake mix is a great base to make just about anything sweet like this easy banana bread.

How ripe should bananas be for banana bread?

The browner the better. I don’t like them to be completely black, but right before that point is perfection. If you need an extra day or two and they’re ready, stick them in the fridge to slow down the process.

How do you make banana bread from scratch?

I have done that and it isn’t tremendously hard, but semi-homemade using cake mix like this recipe is the way to go! Just 4 ingredients and if your naners are ripe enough you may not know the difference.

Now we’re here to make some banana bread with cake mix!

banana bread with cake mix

The cake mix recipes we’ve made so far are:

I will say that if you do have the time, homemade banana bread is worth the time.

I don’t make a lot of things homemade from start to finish and usually opt for semi-homemade but banana bread is something I do think tastes better from scratch.

  • BUT…if you are in a bind or are missing a few ingredients this semi homemade banana bread with cake mix is a good second for sure!!

It does look pretty close to from scratch though, don’t you think??!!

4 Ingredient Banana Bread 3

4 ingredient banana bread with cake mix

  1. Overripe bananas – 5 med. sized is good, could add 6
  2. Box of cake mix – Spice cake mix is by far the best one to use, could use white or homemade yellow cake mix
  3. Oil
  4. Eggs
    1. Could add a bit of banana extract if you want a more intense banana flavor

You could add a bit of mini chocolate chips too if you wish, and/or some chopped nuts but I like it as is. Making easy banana bread muffins with these ingredients is possible too.

cake mix banana bread

Easy breakfast recipes

We absolutely love our pumpkin banana bread too which is perfect in the Fall. Well, okay we make this year round and eat it for dessert too.

pumpkin-banana-bread-recipe

4 ingredient banana muffins

Follow our banana bread muffins recipe here, it works great for grab and go snacks.

  1. Just follow the recipe as stated below
    1. I used carrot cake mix this time which was delicious
    2. 1/2 cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips were added too and got thumbs up from my kiddos and neighbors
  2. I suggest using muffin liners
  3. Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full
  4. Once oven is preheated, bake them for 18 minutes
  5. Remove pan and use a spoon to lift muffins out and on to a cooling rack

Do not leave them in your muffin tin or they will continue cooking and not be as moist. If you want to make a small batch you can use our temp. and timing in our air fryer banana bread recipe.

4 ingredient banana muffins

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4 Ingredient Banana Bread
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4.77 from 13 votes

4 Ingredient Banana Bread

This 4 ingredient banana bread using cake mix is a great breakfast, dessert or snack! A quick banana bread recipe using overripe bananas we love. 
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword banana bread, breakfast, cake mix, easy, quick
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 24
Calories 155kcal
Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mash bananas, then add all other ingredients (except c chips if you’re adding those) and mix until well combined.
  • Fold in chocolate chips if you want to add those and/or nuts.
  • Put into preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 min or until knife comes out clean when inserted into the middle…you do not want to overbake this.
    This will make 2 loaves or 1 loaf and 8 muffins.
    Bake muffins for approx. 16-18 min. or until they spring back when touched gently in the middle.
Nutrition Facts
4 Ingredient Banana Bread
Amount Per Serving (3 oz)
Calories 155 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 21mg7%
Sodium 167mg7%
Potassium 105mg3%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 55IU1%
Vitamin C 2.1mg3%
Calcium 54mg5%
Iron 0.6mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
4 ingredient banana bread recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Sommer says

    This recipe has an excellent texture for using only 4 ingredients, and I look forward to making it again!

    Reply

  3. Doug says

    My wife made this gluten free for our daughter using the Phillsbury Gulten Free yellow cake mix and it was awesome. She was thrilled!

    Reply

  4. Cathy says

    I have made this gluten free for our daughter using the Phillsbury Gulten Free yellow cake mix and it was awesome. She was thrilled!

    Reply

  5. Ellen says

    Just made this with french vanilla cake mix and it came out wonderful! So easy I definitely will be trying it with other flavor of cake mixes.

    Reply

  6. Rebecca Gonzalez says

    This recipe was yummy, and quick too. I made a few changes and substituted the oil with a couple Tablespoons of butter and 1/4 c. of sour cream cause I didn’t have any oil, and I only had 3 bananas. Made it in a bundt pan and it turned out great! It took me 50-55 minutes to bake cause of the bundt pan but it turned out great!

    Reply

  7. JO says

    This recipe looks great, I am also interested in the pumpkin banana bread, but the recipe doesn’t have any pumpkin in it, how much pumpkin would you add to the recipe?

    Reply

  8. Carolyn McKinney says

    I tried this recipe and it was the most moist banana bread but it fell apart taking it out of the pan. It was not pretty but very tasty. I like mine with cream cheese on it bit it would spread on it because it fell apart when I tried to smooth it on.

    Reply

    • Helen Wall says

      I add one small box of banana instant pudding to mine and it doesn’t crumble so easy.

      Reply

  9. Shannon says

    I made them in large muffin tins with no nuts or chocolate chips. They are so good. Made 10.5 large muffins, and increased baking time to 22-24 minutes. I think this is my new favorite way to throw away highly questionable bananas.

    Reply

  10. Carla says

    Oh my. This recipe was easy to make. Made one loaf with chocolate chips and the other with pecans. Simply delicious! I will be making again!

    Reply

      • HelenMarie says

        I’m baking mine in a Bundt pan expect it to take a bit longer-
        I’m using a spice cake mix, 6 bananas & will drizzle with a thinned cream cheese Icing

  13. Donna Cuthbertson says

    I made this recipe using a white cake mix and 4 large bananas. I added 1 tsp of Butter & Nut flavoring with chopped pecans instead of white chocolate. It is easy, moist, and absolutely delicious! I baked this in a 13” x 9” baking dish. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • Jamie says

      I have a question: so I wanted to make in loaf pan. There is no “time” for loaf pan. The above recipe says 45 minutes, yet the box times are significantly less. Which do I use??

      Reply

      • The Typical Mom says

        If you’re using my recipe here you ignore all info on the cake mix box

  14. Jamie says

    I looovee this recipe, because it’s absolutely delicious and oh so easy! 😋👍🏼👍🏼

    Reply

  20. AM says

    Added 1/2 cup ground oats, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces, and used 1/4 cup oil and 1/4 cup applesauce. Split mixture into two loaf pans and baked. Delicious toasted with any nut butter!

    Reply

  22. Beverly says

    Looks great (does NOT look moldy, someone needs a new monitor!) but just one question: what size loaf pan did you use? Maybe I missed that part….

    Reply

  23. Gail says

    Just found this recipe this morning, had only 2 bananas but tried it anyway. It’s awesome!!!! So easy to do, I used spice cake mix, eggs, oil, 2 bananas and then added chopped pecans. It was a smidge underdone at 45 minutes so turned oven off but let bread sit in hot oven for maybe 10 more minutes…perfect! I made only one bread but it’s nice and high.

    Reply

  25. Amy says

    Can you use banana cake mix instead of spice/yellow/etc cake? I can’t find any recipes like that so I’m wondering if it would turn out bad… Chicken to try 😂

    Reply

    • The Typical Mom says

      I would imagine so if it is the same oz. We have used brown bananas with coffee cake boxed mix and it turned out fab too

      Reply

  26. Sherry Pettis says

    Do you make the dread with dry cake mix or make the cake mix according to box then add it to other ingredients?

    Reply

  27. ThereseAnn says

    Made the bread, turned out very good and moist. I like the 4 ingredients. Instead of chocolate chips, I use unsweetened shredded coconut and it taste awesome. I’m gonna try to make chocolate bread bread with the ingredients but not use spice cake mix and use the chocolate cake mix. Will let you know if it turned out great. How do you add a picture of what I made to show ?

    Reply

  28. LYNN THOMPSON says

    I’m making them now! They look great. One loaf pan and 7 muffins. I haven’t tried them yet but I used spice cake to make mine. I plan on putting cream cheese frosting on a couple of the muffins! 😁

    Reply

    • Leean Lester says

      You can use applesauce in any baking recipe. Replace either half the oil used with applesauce or even 1 to 2 tblsp. Mayo. Will help keep it moist !

      Reply

  31. Lucy says

    Can’t wait to make this!!! I mad a 3 ingredient banana bread yesterday but think the addition of oil will be helpful: I put nuts in mine and used a chocolate cake mix which was a great idea!!! I love your idea of a spice cake mix! Oh, and, although I didn’t add chocolate chips, I will when I use a chocolate cake mix again!

    Thanks for the recipe!!!

    Reply

  33. Donna says

    I just put my bread in the oven I didn’t use choc. chips but added walnuts the spice cake mix was a great idea to use . Great recipe I love easy?? smells so good baking . Yum

    Reply

    • The Typical Mom says

      Yes. Typically cupcakes take about 18ish minutes. Depends on your oven and altitude.

      Reply

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