This banana bread without baking soda pulls straight from your pantry to present you a delicate, sweet banana bread with a yummy banana flavor and walnuts for added crunch.

Slices of baked banana bread on a cooling rack.

How many times have you started baking only to realize you are missing a key ingredient? Tell me, it’s not just me! Life is busy. The grocery list is long. It happens to us all. This easy banana bread recipe without baking soda might actually save the day. Or at least save you from an emergency grocery store trip!

Believe it or not, you can actually bake delicious banana bread without baking soda or another leavening agent to help it rise. Generally, it won’t rise quite as much, but it will still taste absolutely delicious.

I’m convinced banana bread became the household staple quick bread because of kids. Yep, kids. I always buy bananas because they are such a simple, healthy snack. But I never get the quantity correct. Some weeks, my kids eat so many bananas I lose count. Some weeks, I buy them, and they sit on the counter until they turn brown and literally sag when I pick them up.

Good news! Those saggy brown bananas are perfect for banana bread. And they don’t require an extra trip to the grocery store if you’re short on baking supplies. I’ve also made air fryer banana bread and 4 ingredient banana bread based on what I have available at home.

So don’t worry about researching a baking soda substitute for banana bread — you don’t need it!

Ingredients needed to prepare a loaf of banana bread.

How to Make Banana Bread without Baking Soda

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

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 350F and spray a loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Egg whites separated from yolks in a mixing bowl.

STEP TWO: Separate the egg whites and yolks, then set the whites aside.

Adding flour and salt to wet ingredients for banana bread,

STEP THREE: Mix together the mashed banana, butter, brown sugar, egg yolks (not the whites), and vanilla in a large bowl.

Combing mashed banana, butter, brown sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla in a mixing bowl.

STEP FOUR: Add the flour and salt. Fold in the dry ingredients just until the batter is combined.

STEP FIVE: In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

STEP SIX: Add half of the egg whites to the banana mixture and fold in gently. Then, fold in the rest of the egg whites. Be careful not to overmix or overwork the batter.

Banana Bread batter poured into a baking pan ready to go into the oven.

STEP SEVEN: Pour batter into your loaf pan and top with chopped nuts. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Loaf of baked banana bread resting on a cooling rack.

What to Serve With Banana Bread with No Baking Soda

Variations for Banana Bread Recipe without Baking Soda

Stir in a handful of chocolate chips!
Add a little cinnamon for extra flavor.
No walnuts? No worries! Pecans are also delicious. Or you can leave them out.
Serve your banana bread warm with simple honey butter.
Want to warm up leftovers of our banana bread with no baking soda? We love to add a smear of butter to slices of bread and put them in the oven for a few minutes. The toasty edges are delicious, and the butter makes the bread extra rich.

Loaf of banana bread cut into slices on a cooling rack.

More Sweet Quick Bread Recipes

What Can You Substitute for Baking Soda in Banana Bread?

You can often substitute baking powder when making banana bread with no baking soda, but the exchange is not one-to-one. Instead, we recommend using whipped egg whites, like in this recipe.

They create a great structure for the bread, and you won’t need to stress if you have no baking powder either!

What Happens if You Forget Baking Soda in Banana Bread?

The texture of your bread will be a little different. Banana bread without baking soda will not rise quite as much.

Thankfully, this banana bread recipe without baking soda is the perfect solution to this dilemma. Whipped egg whites give the loaf that nice, fluffy texture you are looking for.

Baked banana bread cut into slices resting on a parchment lined cooling rack.

Why Is My Banana Bread So Bland?

Likely, your bananas were not ripe enough. The more ripe they are, the sweeter they are — so use the ripest bananas possible! The peel should be covered in spots and the inner fruit should be soft.

It’s also possible that you didn’t use enough sugar or that your sugar is stale. Brown sugar adds a lot of rich, caramelly flavor to the bread, so be sure it’s fresh!

Other Banana Recipes You’ll Love:

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