Instant Pot Banana Bread
Instant Pot banana bread recipe that is so delicious and moist, made with buttermilk, that you could eat it for dessert, breakfast or snack.
Instant Pot Banana Bread
Our family favorite banana bread recipe comes from my sister-in-law. It’s so addicting and melts in your mouth like butter.
I wanted to see how baking banana bread in the instant pot would turn out.
After multiple attempts tweaking the recipe amounts and scaling the recipe down, I was able to create a banana bread recipe to fit inside a bundt pan (that fits inside the 6QT Instant Pot)!
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Accessories To make Instant Pot banana bread
I highly recommend a silicone sling which makes it so handy for lifting out the bundt pan. You can also use the trivet that comes with the Instant Pot and creating your own foil sling as demonstrated further down in this post.
Bundt Pan (6 cup size) is needed for this recipe
Don’t forget to buy an extra silicone sealing ring to use for sweet treats. You wouldn’t want your banana bread to taste like garlic. Trust me.
Use a handheld masher or a fork to mash the bananas.
How to make Banana Bread in the Instant Pot
If you find yourself with some overripe bananas, you’ve just hit the jackpot. Very ripe bananas make the best banana bread because of their extra sweet flavor.
Go ahead and mash up 2 ripe bananas using either a hand held masher or a fork in a small bowl.
Using a stand mixer or a hand held mixer, make the batter.
Prepare the bundt pan
Next, it’s time to prepare the bundt pan. I have tried making this banana bread recipe inside this spring form pan. It only turned out well only once with the spring form pan. All of the other times, it was just not able to cook evenly and thoroughly, especially in the center.
That is why a bundt pan is needed to get a consistent and even cooking experience. Remember, we are cooking with steam and not dry heat like an oven. So we need to help the loaf a bit by allowing heat to get through to the center like a bundt pan can!
I used Pam baking spray with flour when I originally created this recipe.
However, you can also grease the sides down with a regular nonstick spray and add about 2 tbsp flour to lightly tap around the pan until the flour is sticking to the entire inside.
Discard any remaining loose flour from pan.
Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan.
This recipe should fill the pan to 1/2-3/4 amount full. Filling any higher and you’ll end up with it being too full and foil sticking to the top of the bread.
Cover the bundt pan with another piece of foil, to prevent any condensation from dripping into the pan during cooking.
Sling options for the Instant Pot
For the next step, you have two options. You can use this awesome silicone sling with handles to hold the bundt pan.
See how easy it makes to lift out the bundt pan from the Instant Pot?
The silicone sling fits perfectly with the bundt pan inside the Instant Pot 6 quart size (or the 8 quart).
How to make a foil sling
If you don’t have the silicone sling, no worries! This sling wasn’t even available to purchase when I first created this recipe. I made a sling out of foil to be my handles to lift out the bundt pan.
To make your own foil sling, rip off a sheet of foil about 18-20″ long. Fold in half length wise, and then fold in half lengthwise again.
This will now create long arms to help lower and lift the bundt pan into the Instant Pot.
If using the foil sling method, make sure to use the trivet that came with the Instant Pot. Place trivet (with handles up on the sides) in bottom of Instant Pot.
Add one cup of water into the bottom of pot.
Place foil sling into the Instant Pot on top of trivet. Place the bundt pan onto the trivet, making sure foil stays secure on top of pan and foil sling handles are above the bundt pan.
Switch sealing rings
Wait, stop right there. Did you remember to switch your sealing rings? Switch the sealing on the lid to your sweet one and take the savory smelling one off. Make sure new ring is on securely.
How long to cook Instant Pot banana bread
Close lid and turn knob to sealing position. Pressure cook on high for 50 minutes followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release. Quick release any remaining pressure.
Carefully open lid to prevent any condensation from lid dripping onto the banana bread below.
How to remove banana bread from Instant Pot
Using either the handles of the silicone sling or the foil, lift out the bundt pan and place on a cooling rack.
Carefully remove foil without letting water drip onto the bread in the bundt pan. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan.
Loosen edges of banana bread with a thin soft tip spatula, if needed (no metal otherwise it’ll scratch the pan).
Flip Bundt Pan
Place a serving plate on top of the bundt pan. Holding onto both the plate and pan, quickly flip the bundt pan upside down.
Lift off bundt pan and your bread is sitting pretty on a serving plate.
Time to eat
Time to enjoy warm Instant Pot banana bread with some butter on top!
Wait, are you team butter on banana bread or just like to eat it plain?
Instant Pot Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 ripe bananas mashed
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp buttermilk* see not below how to make your own
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- non-stick cooking spray with flour added
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add and dissolve baking soda to *buttermilk. Let it activate for a few minutes. Move onto next step while this rests. (This will help create a nice rise to the bread).
- With a mixer, cream butter and sugar together until well combined. While mixing, add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla, mashed bananas and buttermilk mixture. Make sure to scrape out any remaining baking soda from the bottom of bowl into the batter. Add flour and mix well.
- Spray pan with nonstick spray with flour. Or grease the sides with regular non stick spray and manually add 2 tbsp flour to pan and tap it around to coat the pan (dump remaining loose dusting flour).
- Pour batter into pan. This recipe should fill the pan to 1/2-3/4 amount. (Filling any higher and you’ll end up with it being too full and foil sticking to the top.)
- Cover the pan with foil to prevent condensation entering into batter. Make a foil sling using sheet of foil about 18-20" long. Fold in half length wise, and then fold in half lengthwise again. Or use a silicone sling with handles to help lower and lift the bundt pan out of the Instant Pot.
- Placet trivet (with handles up on the sides) in bottom of Instant Pot. Add 1 cup water. Place foil sling into the Instant Pot on top of trivet. Place the bundt pan onto the trivet, making sure foil stays secure on top and foil sling handles are above the bundt pan.
- SWITCH SEALING RING on the lid to your sweet one and take the savory smelling one off. Make sure new ring is secure and place lid on Instant Pot, turning valve to sealing.
- Cook on high for 50 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure.
- Carefully open lid to avoid any condensation dripping onto the banana bread. Use foil sling handles (or silicone sling handles) to pull up the banana bread pan. Place on cooking rack. Carefully remove foil without letting water drip into pan.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Loosen edges with a thin soft tip spatula, if needed (no metal it’ll scratch the pan). Flip bread onto a serving plate and enjoy warm!
*Homemade Buttermilk Recipe:
- In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp regular/whole milk (not skim) and add a splash of lemon juice (I use the store bought concentrate bottle) or white vinegar will work. Let sit for 5 minutes, until you see it curdle. Now it’s homemade buttermilk and ready for the baking soda step above!
Looks like I need to order a few things! Haven’t made sweets in my insta yet, and so glad to know I need to change out my sealing ring! Thanks so much for sharing…Iook forward to baking this soon. 😊
Can you add nuts to this recipe?
Absolutely! I would add them in at the add-in cycle of the mixing process. Every machine is different so I don’t know if yours will alert you but the model I use in this post does. I would think 1/4-1/2 cup nuts would work. Let me know if you try it and how it turns out! I would love to know!
I’ve made this twice and turned out amazing both times. The second time I added a couple teaspoons of cinnamon, and was delicious!😋
Thank you for your feedback Alfredo. Your addition of cinnamon sounds delicious too! So glad you are enjoying the bread.
We don’t use foil in our house because of the leaching of Aluminium. Do you have any other suggestions for covering it?
Thank you for sharing this! Since the writing of this post, we are also avoiding the use of foil as much as possible now because of the same reasons. You can use an oven safe plate that would fit or one of those silicone lid keepers! Hope that helps!
Can this also be cooked in an oven? I have a instapot but unfortunately it’s still the box. This recipe looks simple enough to just throw in the oven.
Yes! I actually love it best in the oven. I wanted to provide the Instant Pot version for those without an oven or who live in a hot location and would rather not heat up their house by using the oven to make banana bread.
Trying for the first time today, thanks for the reminder about changing the ring! I’ve always used the Bisquick version in the oven, I’ll report back the comparison! Thank you!
That’s wonderful Joyce! I hope you enjoyed the banana bread!
What is the 10 minute release?
The 10 minute release means that you allow the instant pot to release pressure naturally, on it’s own without doing anything. This allows the pressure to gently release. After that time period, then the user can release any remaining pressure in the instant pot by turning the knob from sealing position to venting. Hope that helps!
I saw your recipe and it sounds so good that I ordered a smaller bundt pan so it would work in my Instant Pot Mini (3 quart). I am not sure about how I should change the recipe though. Could I just cut the ingredients in half? How long should I cook the recipe, the same as for your 6 qt. pot? I would really like to try this, as I always seem to have bananas that get too ripe and we love banana bread. Thanks for your help.
Hi Frankie! I haven’t tested this in the 3QT size yet. I’m not able to accurately give suggestions on what would work. If you test it out at half recipe size, let me know so I can add that info to the recipe for others who would like to try that too!
Would you post the original recipe from your sister that you love? Thank you. I am going to try this one now.
Full recipe for Banana Bread (baked in oven not Instant Pot)
1 tsp baking soda
3 tbsp buttermilk* (see note below how to make your own buttermilk)
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325F
In a small bowl, add and dissolve baking soda to *buttermilk. Let it activate for a few minutes. Move onto next step while this rests. (This will help create a nice rise to the bread).
With a mixer, cream butter and sugar together until well combined. While mixing, add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla, mashed bananas and buttermilk mixture. Make sure to scrape out any remaining baking soda from the bottom of bowl into the batter. Add flour and nuts (nuts optional) and mix well.
Spray loaf pan with nonstick spray.
Pour batter into pan. This recipe should fill the pan to 1/2-3/4 amount.
For loaves, bake for about 1 hour or more. Check doneness by insert a toothpick in the center to make sure it comes out clean. If sticky with batter, bake longer, checking about every 5 minutes until done.
For muffins, bake about 25 minutes.
*Homemade Buttermilk Recipe:
In a small bowl, combine 3 tbsp regular/whole milk (not skim) and add a splash of lemon juice (I use the store bought concentrate bottle) or white vinegar will work. Let sit for 5 minutes, until you see it curdle. Now it’s homemade buttermilk and ready for the baking soda step above!
I noticed you “oven” recipe calls for 1/2 cup butter but, the instant pot version calls for 1 cup. Is this information accurate? If no, which version is incorrect?
Also, if I use the OXO sling, do I need to use the metal trivet too?
Yep! Just follow the exact directions for the recipe you want to make.
Forgot to answer about the metal trivet. If using the OXO sling with trivet built in, then you don’t need the metal trivet. 🙂
Made this today in my IP. First time to try baking in it. Delicious. I had 3 medium sized ripe bananas so used all of them. Only thing is the recipe didn’t call for walnuts. I wonder if that’s because of some adverse outcome when cooking in IP.
So glad you enjoyed the banana bread! You can most definitely add nuts to it, there’s no adverse outcome. The reason I didn’t provide it is because my daughter has nut allergies so I usually don’t include it in our recipes.
It would be really helpful if you could express the amount of banana needed in cups or ounces or gram. 2 bananas is kinda vague & I don’t want to end up with dry bread! Thanks
You’re right! Bananas can be all different sizes and having it measured in a cup or oz amount would be more exact. Next time I make this, I will measure it out and update the recipe. There’s no need to worry if the banana bread will be moist enough as it’s cooked inside a steam environment in the Instant Pot though.
I made banana bread recipe today, and when I removed the foil, it was swimming in liquid. Why, I do not know. Will place in oven for a few minutes to dry it out as cake tester showed it was done. It smells good, but I think 1 cup butter is too much.
The liquid on top comes from the condensation from the steam of the cooking environment in the instant pot. Usually the foil helps prevent too much liquid. I soak up the extra liquid with a paper towel whenever this happens.