Yes, you can make banana bread in the Instant Pot–no need to heat up your oven!

Learn how to make the best Instant Pot banana bread with this easy pressure cooker recipe.

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Banana bread is one of those homestyle comfort foods that I think everyone should have a good recipe for.

It has a way of cheering you up, and the simple act of baking it will make your house smell like a dream come true.

Although I’m partial to my classic sour cream banana bread, I have a soft spot for the best banana bread variations, too–such as adding nuts or chocolate chips, or by making pistachio banana bread, strawberry banana bread, banana pear bread, or chocolate peanut butter banana bread!

Can You “Bake” in the Instant Pot?

You may be surprised to learn that you can “bake” banana bread in your Instant Pot!

I’ve been making sweet treats in my Instant Pot for a while now, including several Instant Pot cake recipes, Instant Pot lemon cheesecake, Instant Pot pecan pie, and more!

The difference is that an oven is a dry heat environment, whereas the Instant Pot is a moist heat environment, so it’s actually not true baking. Instead, you’re steaming the banana bread.

Because of this, you’ll notice that the surface of Instant Pot “baked” goods doesn’t turn golden-brown as it does in the oven–that’s normal!

Instant Pot Cake Recipes to Try:

• Instant Pot Red Velvet Bundt Cake
• Instant Pot Chocolate Bundt Cake
• Instant Pot Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

And if you want some easy Instant Pot breakfast ideas, try my Instant Pot egg bites or Instant Pot oatmeal!

Why Should You Make Banana Bread in your Instant Pot?

So you may be wondering what the benefits are for making a banana bread in the Instant Pot. Is it better than baking the bread in the oven?

It’s important to note that making Instant Pot banana bread doesn’t necessarily save much time when compared to baking in the oven.

However, this method can be super helpful for those days when you don’t want to heat up your oven for baking. It’s also great for times when your oven is already in use, such as when you’re hosting a holiday dinner and you are juggling making several items at once.

Not only that, but this method is ideal for travelers who may not have access to an oven! I know many people take their Instant Pot in their RVs when traveling, so this would allow them to enjoy a homemade treat without using an oven.

I’ve also found that the moist environment of the Instant Pot really helps to keep the bread moist, so you don’t have to worry about it turning out dry and crumbly.

How to Make Instant Pot Banana Bread

It’s really easy to make this homemade banana bread in your pressure cooker!

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Unsalted butter
• Brown sugar
• White granulated sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Sour cream
• Ripe bananas
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Baking soda
• Cinnamon

How to Make It:

(Full printable recipe is available below)

Combine butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. First, you’ll cream the butter and sugars together until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix to combine. Next, add the mashed bananas and sour cream and mix (you can read more about what sour cream does in baking).

Add dry ingredients. Last, you’ll add the dry ingredients, mixing the batter just until combined.

Pour the batter into a greased bundt pan that fits in your Instant Pot. I personally find that bundt pans allow food to cook more evenly in the Instant Pot than regular cake pans.

Pressure cook. Cover the pan tightly with foil (to prevent condensation from dripping on the bread while cooking). Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the insert pot of the Instant Pot. With the help of a sling, lower the pan onto the trivet in your Instant Pot. Cook at high pressure for 55 minutes, followed by a 10 minute natural release, then a quick release of remaining pressure.

Cool and garnish. Remove the foil and cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. If desired, top with a drizzle of caramel sauce and some pecans or walnuts before serving.

Notes and Adaptations:

• If you prefer nuts in your banana bread, feel free to add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter before baking.