Easy 3-Ingredient Cake Mix Banana Bread (or Muffins)

My favorite thing to make with overripe bananas is banana bread. Of all the versions I have tried over the years, I keep coming back to simple recipes that don’t require a long ingredient list or much fuss.

I never thought to make banana bread with a cake mix until I found myself low on flour—and I am so glad I tried it. This 3-ingredient banana bread is surprisingly light, tender, and easy, and everyone who’s tasted it has been pleasantly surprised by how good it is.

All you need are ripe bananas, eggs, and a box of cake mix. That’s it. It is one of those back-pocket recipes that comes in handy more often than you’d expect.

And if you’d rather make muffins than a loaf, good news. This easy batter works beautifully as muffins too. I’ve included directions for both below.

Why I Love This Banana Bread

• Just three simple ingredients
• Great way to use overripe bananas
• Light texture with classic banana flavor
• Easy to customize with mix-ins
• Can be made as loaves or muffins
• WW-friendly and portionable, especially if you opt for a sugar-free or low-sugar cake mix

Ingredients and Substitutions

Yellow Cake Mix – A standard boxed yellow cake mix works best, but don’t be afraid to experiment. White cake mix, spice cake mix, butter pecan, chocolate, strawberry, or even pineapple cake mix all work well and create slightly different flavors.

Very Ripe Bananas – The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful the bread will be. Bananas with lots of brown spots are perfect.

Eggs – Help bind everything together and provide structure. I haven’t tested this recipe with egg substitutes.

How Many Calories and WW Points?

According to my calculations, each serving has 99 calories.
(I cut each loaf into 12 slices making 24 servings.)

WW Points: 3
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)

3 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Sugar-Free Cake Mix Option

If you use a sugar-free yellow cake mix, the WW Points are lower. According to the WW Recipe Builder:

• Regular yellow cake mix: 82 Points (dry mix)
• Sugar-free yellow cake mix: 43 Points

That’s a savings of 39 Points per recipe, which can make a big difference depending on how you slice it.f 39 Points per recipe, which can make a big difference depending on how you slice it.

How to Make Easy Low Fat 3-Ingredient Banana Bread

Step 1: Mix Banana Bread

In a large bowl, mash the bananas well, then stir in the cake mix and eggs until well combined.

Step 2: Transfer batter into prepared pans.

Divide the batter evenly between the pans.

Step 3: Bake banana bread.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of loaves comes out clean and inside of cracks do not look wet.

How to Make 3-Ingredient Banana Muffins

This batter works just as well as muffins.

Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or coat with nonstick cooking spray.

Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.

Bake at 350F degrees for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: About 24 muffins

Calories per muffin: Approximately 99 calories

WW Points per muffin: 3

Cooking Notes

I like lining my loaf pans with parchment paper, but it’s not necessary if you’re using nonstick pans well coated with cooking spray.

Because this batter is fairly thick, spreading it evenly in the pans helps ensure even baking.

Muffins tend to bake more evenly when the cups are filled about three-quarters full.

Variations

Try Different Cake Mix Flavors

• White cake mix
• Spice cake mix
• Chocolate cake mix
• Strawberry cake mix
• Pineapple cake mix
• Butter cake mix
• Butter pecan cake mix

Add Mix-Ins

Try stirring in:

• Chocolate chips
• Chopped nuts
• Coconut
• Blueberries
• Chopped strawberries
• Crushed pineapple
• Peanut butter swirl

If you add mix-ins, remember to adjust calories and WW Points accordingly.

If you’ve made this low fat 3-Ingredient Cake Mix Banana Bread, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Recipe Source: Betty Crocker

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this recipe as muffins instead of banana bread?

Absolutely. Divide the batter among muffin cups and bake at 350F degrees for 18 to 22 minutes. The recipe makes about 24 muffins, depending on the size of your bananas and cake mix.

Can I freeze banana bread or muffins?

Yes. Once completely cooled, wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

How should I store banana bread?

Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?

Yes. White, spice, butter pecan, chocolate, strawberry, and pineapple cake mixes all work well and are fun ways to change up the flavor.

More Easy 2–3 Ingredient Desserts

If you like this 3-Ingredient Cake Mix Banana Bread you may also like:

• 3-2-1 Microwave Mug Cake
  A single-serve cake made in minutes using boxed cake mix.
• 2-Ingredient Pineapple Angel Food Cake
  A light, fluffy cake that’s been popular with WeightWatchers members for decades.
• 2-Ingredient Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins
  Simple muffins made with chocolate cake mix and pumpkin puree.
• 2-Ingredient Banana Oat Cookies
  Soft and chewy cookies that are sweetened naturally, made with just bananas and oats.