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Banana Bread with Yellow Cake Mix

You won’t believe how easy it is to make this 4 ingredient banana bread! Boxed cake mix paired with bananas, eggs, and instant pudding creates a sweet, moist, and tasty result.

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Slices of 4 ingredient banana bread on cutting board

You will love making Banana Bread from Cake Mix!

Banana bread is one breakfast and snack food that I love to have around the house. It’s also one of my favorite ways to use overripe bananas. I enjoy mine warm with a bit of butter. If you have a real sweet tooth, it’s also delicious with a scoop of ice cream as dessert! 

This recipe checks all the boxes for me. It avoids food waste, has minimal ingredients, and takes practically no time to prepare. Adding bananas to yellow cake mix is one cooking hack that makes preparing banana bread easier than ever. 

This 4 ingredient recipe only takes about 5 minutes to throw together. Then it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the warm aroma of bananas and vanilla as it fills your kitchen and home!

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:

  • All of the ingredients you need to make this easy banana bread recipe
  • Suggestions for how to turn this into a 5 ingredient banana bread (with chocolate chips or nuts) 
  • Tips for making banana bread with yellow cake mix, as well as substitutions for the yellow cake mix if you want to switch things up!

My recipe for banana bread with cake mix and pudding is easy-as-pie (bread?), and there are plenty of add-ons possible! Grab your aprons and let’s head to the kitchen.

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prepared ingredients for 4 ingredient banana bread

Substitutions For the Yellow Cake Mix 

Remember that you can make this a 5 ingredient banana bread (with chocolate chips or nuts)! Don’t stop there – you can also change up the cake mix that you use. Here are some suggestions:

  • Spice cake mix
  • White cake mix
  • Chocolate cake mix 
  • Devil’s Food cake mix
  • …or your favorite cake!

How to Make 4 Ingredient Banana Bread 

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and gather your ingredients. Make sure you mash your bananas well!

STEP TWO: Add the vanilla pudding, mashed bananas, and eggs into a bowl. Mix well to combine, then add in the yellow cake mix and mix until blended. Don’t over mix! This can cause the middle of your bread to sink in. If you’re using extras like chocolate chips or nuts, add those in too. Now your banana bread with cake mix and pudding is ready to bake.

mix ingredients and pour into loaf pan

STEP THREE: Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and add the batter. Place in the oven and cook for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let your banana bread cool for at least 10 minutes and remove it from the pan. Enjoy!

cooked banana bread on cooling tray

Additions for Banana Bread with Cake Mix

In addition to adding bananas to yellow cake mix, there are plenty of other options! I love including chocolate chips, walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, peanut butter, orange zest, or even dried fruit. Still try to keep it to 5 ingredients total so the banana flavor can come through.

For a fall treat, make it a pumpkin cake mix banana bread by adding bananas to our delicious pumpkin flavored bread!

easy banana bread with bananas for decor

Tips for Banana Bread using Cake Mix

  • Use overripe bananas — this will ensure that your 4 ingredient banana bread actually tastes like bananas! The fruit will be soft, almost mushy, and the peel will be covered in brown freckles. The riper they are, the stronger (and sweeter!) the flavor. 
  • If you don’t have a mixer, simply use a fork!
  • Transform this cake mix banana bread recipe into banana muffins if you don’t have a loaf pan.
  • You’ll know your cake is done when the top becomes caramelized and turns golden brown.
close up on couple slices of 4 ingredient banana bread

How to Store This 4 Ingredient Banana Bread  

Don’t put your 4 ingredient banana bread in the refrigerator — it will dry out. Keep it in an airtight container or cover a plate with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store your banana bread on your counter for up to 4 days.

FAQs for Banana Bread Made with Cake Mix

Why Should I Use Overripe Bananas to Make Banana Bread? 

You should use overripe bananas in this banana bread with yellow cake mix recipe because they have a stronger banana taste than ones that are just ripened. 
Overripe bananas also tend to be sweeter, and it’s a great way to avoid food waste. Overripe bananas may not be as enjoyable on their own as a snack, but they shine in banana bread!

Is It Okay to Use Frozen Bananas For Banana Bread? 

Yes, you can use frozen bananas for banana bread. Some chefs swear that this method yields moist results! They are also easier to mix into your batter. 
If you have overripe bananas but don’t have the time to whip up this easy banana bread recipe, throw them in the freezer for a rainy day! Leave them whole or store them peeled or mashed in a freezer-safe storage bag.

4 ingredient banana bread slices

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Slices of 4 ingredient banana bread on cutting board

Banana Bread Made with Cake Mix

Samantha Erb
You won’t believe how easy this 4 ingredient banana bread! Cake mix, bananas, eggs, and pudding create a sweet, moist, and tasty result.
4.53 from 19 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Desserts
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 299 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 box Jell-O vanilla instant pudding 3.4 oz
  • 4 bananas medium and over ripened
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 box yellow cake mix 15.25 oz, Duncan Hines Classic Yellow Cake Mix
  • 1 cup chocolate chips optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Add the vanilla pudding, mashed bananas, and eggs into a bowl. Mix well to combine.
  • Add in the yellow cake mix and mix until just blended. Mix in the chocolate chips if using.
  • Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and add the banana bread batter into the pan.
  • Place in the oven and cook for 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let bread cool for at least 10 minutes then remove from the loaf pan.

Notes

NOTES:

Overmixing the batter will cause the middle to sink in more.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 299kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 371mgFiber: 2gSugar: 32g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


samantha

About Samantha

I’ve always had a love of cooking and creating new recipes, so it only made sense to create a food blog so I could share those recipes with you. This site is designed to provide easy and flavorful recipes with as little ingredients as possible. That means you still get great flavor combinations without all that extra time and effort. Read more...

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