We Tried 6 Celebrity Banana Bread Recipes, And Here's The Winner

Celebrities have thrown their glitter all over the home culinary scene, hawking everything from signature cookware to special edition fast food. It was inevitable that they'd get in on the banana bread action at some point. Several superstars have begun touting their personal recipes for this homey comfort bake via everyone's preferred source of wisdom from the rich and famous: the Internet. This made it easy for fans to jump into the kitchen to give their favorite famous person's banana bread a try. Who wouldn't relish the opportunity to play a home version of America's Test Kitchen and whip up some of the superstar set's best take on a flavorful favorite?

But unless their loaves are studded with diamonds and embellished with gold leaf, famous folk couldn't possibly have that much magic to add to the basic banana bread concept ... or could they? We figured there had to be one recipe appealing enough to justify celebs crushing so hard on a classic. So we stepped into the world of celebrity baking to see which of these recipes shines the brightest. We made some minor substitutions along the way, like keeping our ingredients ground-level instead of going for pie-in-the-sky expensive elements. We also ripened our bananas by heating them in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, a kitchen hack that let us bake without waiting for nature to take its course.

So whose banana bread baked up the best? The suspense is pretty tasty, so let's dig in!

Who wouldn't want to try making banana bread like Chrissy Teigen, one of Instagram's favorite relatable celebrities? Of the big names that are offering their reinventions of this baked favorite, Teigen is one of the most trustworthy when it comes to home baking. Even the preamble to the recipe on her Cravings website is informal, explaining her process of experimentation as she tinkered with add-ins and flavors. Her down-to-earth description makes you feel as if you, too, can transform basic banana bread into an exceptional bake, even if you change things up a bit.

Teigen's recipe uses more bananas than the others we tested, to the tune of a whopping six. Teigen specifies that this number should not be reduced by any measure. Note taken, chef! There's also a box of vanilla pudding mix and a cup each of chocolate chips and unsweetened coconut shreds, presumably to add texture and taste tending in a tropical direction. Teigen also uses a bundt pan instead of more traditional loaf pans, claiming that the shape brings added moistness. 

We opted for a simple round pan since this banana bread was giving cake vibes with all the add-ins. The presumption is that it doesn't matter what pan you choose, as this dense, super-sweet banana bread variant is the best birthday cake ever. The island essence we expected turned out to be more of a toasty vanilla layer that helped bring up the banana notes ... good thing we used all six bananas.

Who knew any of the Kardashian kids could cook? Maybe superfans have caught a glimpse of kitchen work during episodes of the long-running show featuring this bunch. A family that lives its life on television and bickers over hiring chefs for Thanksgiving would have surely dropped a scene or two of someone whipping up a dish by now if it was a regular deal. So Kourtney Kardashian boasting about her Valentine's Day-ready banana bread recipe was something of a plot twist. She even baked it in a heart-shaped tube pan to drive home the idea that her decadent banana bread was created with love in mind. We couldn't find the love aisle at the grocery store, so we stuck with the ingredients on the list instead.

Kourtney's recipe results in a luxurious batter that's dense and almost gluey, with enough to make two loaves in a single go. A full pint of sour cream helps add richness in both texture and flavor, elevating a homey recipe into the realm of gourmet artistry. It also cooks for almost a full 30 minutes more than the other recipes on the list, which caused a bit of anxiety as we closed the oven door but made sense after seeing how tall the loaf grew. This recipe has pound cake ambitions and it isn't afraid to show them, even with chocolate chips and a touch of cinnamon. It's easy to picture K-Kard's creation behind glass in a high-end coffee shop bakery case.

Of course the Barefoot Contessa has a banana bread recipe. Judging by the staying power she's had throughout her career, Ina Garten might have enough to fill an entire banana bread cookbook by now. Her popularity with home cooks makes her creations seem simple and eminently possible, even when there are gourmet touches added to the mix. Her calm demeanor and easygoing charm on her cooking shows likewise help generate the kind of confidence that domestic chefs need to feel like they, too, can successfully recreate a celebrity chef's banana bread and enjoy it, even if it doesn't go entirely to plan.

Not surprisingly, Garten's recipe is the most traditional on the list. It came out of the oven warm and earthy, with undeniable banana appeal and a toothy crust that the others didn't achieve. There are no curveballs on the ingredient list, where the presence of cinnamon and nutmeg provide an undeniable autumn sensibility, and the texture makes it easy to turn out and slice the loaf. The big question: Is it Jeffrey's favorite? Who can be sure? All we know is this thoroughly lovely banana bread is a comfort food classic, though after trying a slice, we wish it had a little more rousing razzle-dazzle. Even chocolate chips or a drizzle of glaze would add a more creative spark to what is an otherwise very nice banana bread.