Non-Dense Banana Bread

Here’s Jose elCook’s viral banana bread recipe—known for avoiding dense bottoms and giving you the perfect crumb. Based on his recent reel and video clips:

Banana bread like you've never before! This is legit the best method to avoid dense bottoms…

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🍌 Ingredients (yields one loaf)

From José elCook’s posts:

2 ripe bananas, mashed

220 g all-purpose flour

8 g baking powder

1 g baking soda

2.5 g kosher salt

A pinch of cinnamon

75 g softened butter

65 g granulated sugar

65 g brown sugar

2 eggs (added one at a time)  

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🥣 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 175 °C (350 °F) and grease a standard loaf pan.

2. Mix wet ingredients: Cream the butter and both sugars until light, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in mashed bananas and cinnamon.

3. Combine dry ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Fold together wet into dry until just combined—do not overmix to avoid toughness.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

6. Bake at 175 °C (350 °F) for about 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil.

7. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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✅ Why This Works & Tips

Balanced leavening: Baking powder plus soda gives lift without sinking. The method minimizes a dense bottom by integrating ingredients evenly.

Texture control: Folding gently retains air for a lighter crumb. José’s ratio avoids soggy or gummy layers.

Flavor depth: Equal granulated and brown sugar enriches with caramel notes while still holding moisture.

Bananas about right: Using only two ripe bananas keeps moisture in check, avoiding soggy batter.

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📝 Recipe Summary

Step Action

1 Mash bananas

2 Cream butter + sugars

3 Add eggs (one by one), then bananas + cinnamon

4 Whisk dry mix in separate bowl

5 Fold wet into dry until just blended

6 Bake 175 °C for 45–55 min

7 Cool before slicing

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💡 Pro Tips for Baking Success

Use ripe bananas (with brown spots) for maximum flavor.

Room-temperature eggs and butter incorporate more evenly.

Keep batter airy—avoid overmixing.

Tent with foil midway if browning too fast.

Test doneness at 45 minutes, then adjust bake time as needed.

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Want to jazz it up? Try adding:

A handful of chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)

Chocolate chips or raisins

A swirl of peanut butter or cream cheese on top before baking