Our easy 4 ingredient banana bread with cake mix recipe is a great breakfast, dessert or snack! It is the best way to use overripe bananas with oil, eggs and spice cake mix or yellow cake mix banana bread is wonderful too.
Jump To
- Ingredient Notes
- How ripe should bananas be for banana bread?
- Can you add chocolate chips?
- How Long to Bake 4 Ingredient Banana Bread with Cake Mix
- How Long to Bake 4 Ingredient Banana Bread Muffins (option)
- How do you know when it is done?
- 4 Ingredient Banana Bread Recipe
- Other easy breakfast recipes you’ll love
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.
We came up with a bunch of overripe banana recipes years ago because I just hate wasting food. I have made this easy banana bread recipe when they’re still pretty yellow and it works find. The browner the better though really.
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.
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 our smaller recipe for 6 cupcakes as a treat. White or spice cake mix is a great base to make just about anything sweet like this easy banana bread.
Ingredient Notes
You are going to want to wait until you have a few overripe bananas – 5 medium sized is good, could add 6 if they are quite small.
Then use a full box of cake mix. Spice cake mix is by far the best one to use, could use white or yellow cake mix.
Vegetable Oil is your best bet. You could use applesauce (but it turns out rather flat this way). Your best substitutions for this is plain Greek yogurt or mayo like our banana bread with mayonnaise recipe.
Eggs are best added at room temperature. Could add a bit of banana extract if you want a more intense banana flavor.
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.
Can you add chocolate chips?
You could add a bit of mini chocolate chips too if you wish, and/or some chopped nuts (about 1/2 cup) but I like it as is. Making easy banana bread muffins with these ingredients is possible too. Add chocolate chips if you like. If we do I prefer mini semi-sweet chips so they are smaller and incorporate better all the way thru.
I will say that if you do have the time making this homemade, or our banana bread bundt cake, 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 recipe with cake mix is a good second for sure!! It does look pretty close to from scratch though, don’t you think??!!
How Long to Bake 4 Ingredient Banana Bread with Cake Mix
You are going to want around 45 minutes for this to bake properly. Keep a close eye in the last few minutes as the worst thing you can do is cook too long and dry it out. If it looks like it is browning too much and not quite done in the center cover the top with a piece of parchment paper until done.
How Long to Bake 4 Ingredient Banana Bread Muffins (option)
I suggest using muffin liners. Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full. Once oven is preheated, bake them for 18 minutes. 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.
How do you know when it is done?
I like to use my finger and a toothpick. If you touch the middle gently and it doesn’t bounce back, rather it sinks, it needs 5 minutes more. If it doesn’t sink test with long toothpick. You want moist crumbs attached when it is removed. Totally dry means it baked too long.
Your best bet is to remove the muffins and/or bread loaves out of the hot pans immediately and set them on a cooling rack. If you leave it in the pan it will continue to cook and it will become too dry as well.
4 Ingredient Banana Bread Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 2 bowls
- 2 9×5 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 5 large bananas, brown
- 1 box cake mix, we used spice cake mix, another would work too
- 1/3 cup oil, can use pumpkin puree or applesauce instead but won't rise as hhigh
- 3 large eggs
Instructions
- Mash bananas, then add all other ingredients (except chocolate chips if you're adding those) and mix until well combined.
- * Fold in 1/2 cup chocolate chips if you want to add those and/or nuts.
- Put into preheated oven at 350 degrees. Line loaf pans with parchment paper and divide batter into 2 9×5" pans equally.
- Bake for 45 min or until knife comes out mostly clean when inserted into the middle (with moist crumbs attached). You do not want to overbake this. This will make 2 loaves or 1 loaf and 8 muffins.
Notes
4 Ingredient Banana Bread into Muffins
Make batter as directed above and preheat to 350 F. beforehand. Use paper liners in pan, fill 3/4 of the way full. Bake muffins for approx. 16-18 min. or until they spring back when touched gently in the middle.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Other easy breakfast recipes you’ll love
I mean we have a lot of options like banana bread pudding too which we love on our site because difficult is not allowed in our home. 😉 Try different mixes and see which is your fave but we think spice is the way to go all year round.
If you want to make a small batch you can use our temp. and timing in our air fryer banana bread recipe. We absolutely love our chocolate banana bread with cake mix too which is perfect in the Fall. Well, okay we make this year round and eat it for dessert too.
- How to make brownies out of cake mix instructions are here for you to follow. Easy as ever and peanut butter is a fun one.
- Cake mix peanut butter brownies using cake mix
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 ?
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! 😁
Can applesauce be used instead of oil?
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 !
Will this cake do well baked in a bundt pan? Thanks
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!!!
Hope you love it too
What oven temperature?
Says 350 in card
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
This was so simple! I love this recipe and will be making again soon
Awesome
What a great way to speed up a family favourite and use up the over-ripe fruit.
Can this recipe be made as cupcakes?? Cooking time??
Yes. Typically cupcakes take about 18ish minutes. Depends on your oven and altitude.