When Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal recently shared their family banana bread recipe with NYT Cooking, I did what any banana bread enthusiast would do: I immediately bookmarked it and grabbed some bananas during my next grocery run.
As someone who firmly believes banana bread is one of the most foolproof, comforting baked goods out there, I had to try it. But what started as a simple “let me try this one recipe” quickly spiraled into a full-blown celebrity banana bread deep dive. Because just like every actor/reality TV star/model seems to have their own booze brand, there’s a surprising number of celebs with banana bread recipes that they swear by.
So I decided to lean in and bake my way through four different recipes: the Gyllenhaals’ cozy, family-style loaf, Chrissy Teigen’s famously indulgent take, a classic version from Joanna Gaines, and Kourtney Kardashian’s “cheat day” treat.
But first, I had to wait for these bananas to ripen. As Jake Gyllenhaal says, “banana bread tastes the best when the bananas are almost to their death,” and these were far, far from it.
To keep things as fair as possible, I followed each recipe as written and kept conditions consistent — for example, using the same loaf pan unless it specifically called for something different.
At first glance, they all seem like slight variations on the same theme. But once I started baking, I realized there are some very real differences — from ingredient choices to sweetness levels to overall texture — which made this taste test more interesting (and, honestly, more unpredictable) than I expected.
Chrissy Teigen’s Ultimate Banana Bread
If you’ve spent any time on the internet in the past few years, you’ve probably heard about this banana bread. Chrissy’s take is unapologetically extra, packed with shredded coconut, dark chocolate chunks, and vanilla pudding mix.
In true Chrissy fashion, the recipe is full of THOUGHTS. On just how many bananas you’ll need (six, but I guess my bananas were large because I only needed four). On which instant pudding brand to buy (the iconic one). On why breaking out your Bundt pan is worth it (“it’s so much more moist”).
Baking in a Bundt pan made this the most cumbersome recipe of the bunch. To ensure that bread pops out without sticking, you have to prep the pan extremely well. I was pretty generous with the oil and flour, but my bread still stuck a bit, likely because of the sugars from the chocolate and coconut. I also had to bake it a full half an hour longer before my batter was fully cooked.
Given this was the banana bread heard ‘round the world, I thought it would be an immediate frontrunner. But I’m not one for quick breads that veer into dessert territory, and that’s exactly what this one does. It’s incredibly sweet, even with the dark chocolate chunks meant to balance it out, and has more of a cake-like, almost chewy texture than the tender crumb I associate with banana bread. While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I do think it’s a good banana cake. The Bundt shape is super impressive looking, and it’d make a great party dessert.
Rating: 🍌🍌🍌
Kourtney Kardashian’s Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
To be very honest, I was surprised at how…normal Kourtney Kardashian’s banana bread recipe was. I was expecting something with a lot of “healthy” swaps, and while there’s certainly a time and place for a low-sugar whole wheat loaf, a celebrity banana bread showdown is not it (Kourtney does indeed have a gluten-free, dairy-free version that I did not try for the sake of a fair comparison).
In fact, the base of this recipe is very close to Jake and Maggie’s, but instead of nuts, it has chocolate chips and cinnamon as add-ins. Kourtney’s recipe, which she credits to her friend Jessie, also contains baking powder, which gives the bread more height.
Overall, this was a solid banana bread. I halved the measurements since the full recipe yields two loaves, and I was already drowning in banana bread. In terms of texture, it was similar to the Gyllenhaals' loaf, but Kourtney's version wasn’t quite as flavorful. The recipe uses one less banana, and I could really taste the difference. It’s also sweeter because it contains more sugar and chocolate chips.
I can see why her kids love it, and it was my 7-year-old’s favorite of the bunch, too. While it’s not as dessert-like as Chrissy’s banana bread, it’s still rich and feels like a treat or super indulgent breakfast.
Rating: 🍌🍌🍌
Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Banana Bread
This recipe immediately stood out as the most homey of the bunch. It’s the kind of banana bread that feels like it’s been passed down, tweaked, and made a hundred times over, which the Gyllenhaals confirmed is exactly what happened.
The original recipe came from a Sunbeam recipe booklet that their mom found, and the siblings have since made it their own by reducing the sugar and adding more nuts and baking soda. Otherwise, it’s as standard as they come. The only “twist” is adding two types of nuts instead of one (the Gyllenhaals prefer a combination of toasted walnuts and pecans).
This is the platonic ideal of banana bread. It has a nice banana flavor and super tender crumb thanks to sour cream. Jake and Maggie made the right call to add more nuts — I personally love the textural contrast they bring to the table.
At the end of the video, Jake shares another tip: “The thing I love about this cake is that in four days, it’s even better.” So, of course, I waited four days and had another piece. It was still surprisingly tender, but I don’t think it was nearly as good on day one.
Rating: 🍌🍌🍌🍌
Joanna Gaines' After-School Banana Bread
Joanna Gaines’ recipe felt like the definition of a no-fuss, everyday banana bread. The kind, as its name suggests, you’d throw together on a weekday afternoon with ingredients you already have. It sticks pretty closely to the classic formula — ripe bananas, butter, sugar, eggs, and pantry staples — but has a few “fixer-upper” improvements.
Joanna uses light brown sugar and salted butter and calls for baking the bread in an 8-by-8 brownie pan. She also recommends sprinkling a generous two tablespoons of sugar on the batter before baking. These don’t sound radical by any means, but altogether, they did make a difference.
The resulting bread had a deep flavor that wasn’t too sweet and a brownie-like crackle. As Joanna suggests, I left my mashed bananas a bit chunky and loved that I could see the fruit laced throughout. I didn’t have enough salted butter on hand, so I used unsalted and just bumped up the amount of kosher salt to make up for it.
Of the four recipes, this is the one I see myself adding to my regular rotation of baked goods. With the exception of the salted butter, the ingredients are ones I always have on hand (the Gyllenhaals and Kourtney use sour cream, which isn’t a staple in my household). The only thing I’d do differently is add more chopped pecans (the recipe calls for 1/2 cup, but I’d use a full cup next time). For added convenience, I’d also skip the stand mixer and just use a mixing bowl and whisk since the butter is already melted.
Rating: 🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌
Final Thoughts
After baking and eating my way through all four, I can confidently say not all banana breads are created equal, and the differences go way beyond just add-ins.
Chrissy Teigen’s loaf is the most over-the-top, leaning firmly into dessert territory with its ultra-sweet, cake-like vibe, while Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal's delivers a classic, nostalgic version that feels like the definition of what banana bread should be.
Joanna Gaines surprised me the most with a simple recipe that still manages to have deep flavor and standout texture (that crackly top alone!), ultimately taking the top spot. And then there’s Kourtney Kardashian’s version, which lands somewhere in the middle: a crowd-pleasing, slightly sweeter loaf that feels more like a treat than an everyday bake.
Overall, this taste-test proved that small tweaks — an extra banana here, a different pan there — can completely change the outcome, and depending on what you’re craving, there’s truly a celebrity banana bread for every occasion and mood.
If you're looking for another five-star banana bread recipe, why not make Tasty's One-Bowl Chocolate Chip Banana Bread? Download the app to save it while you wait for your bananas to ripen.
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