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A few years back I wrote about how almost any of your homemade baking recipes can also be make-ahead mixes in jars. It’s often just a matter of measuring out the dry ingredients of the recipe ahead of time. Today I’m sharing another example of how this strategy works using a banana bread recipe I’ve had for many years – but today I’m turning it into a banana bread recipe in a jar!

For this banana bread mix in a jar I started by adding the flour to the jar first, followed by the smaller ingredients of baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and then the layer of sugar. If you try to add powdery or looser ingredients like flour or white sugar over top of a layer of nuts or chocolate chips, it will eventually sift down and create a messier look. That’s why I finished up my jar with the layer of nuts and chips on the top.

I’ve also learned a few handy tools can be helpful too. I prefer wide-mouth quart canning jars so there’s a larger opening to work with. I also use a wide mouth funnel to help get the ingredients into the jar. And finally, believe it or not, a very handy tool for tamping down the layers is a turkey baster!

Ways to Tweak This Banana Bread Jar Mix

For years I always made this recipe using just ordinary white flour and white sugar, and using the eggs and vegetable oil to bake it too. But as the years have gone along, I’ve learned there are some ways I can tweak this recipe with some healthier ingredients and still get good results.

Now when I make this banana bread recipe, I always use the white whole wheat flour, and that’s what was used in the pictures here too. I will sometimes buy the organic cane sugar from Aldi now as well and when I used it for this jar mix, I liked how it’s slightly tan color added a little interest to that layer. I also used the Enjoy Life brand of mini chocolate chips that are non-dairy.

And when it’s time to cook the banana bread, there’s ways to avoid the eggs and oil in this recipe for those that don’t use those ingredients for vegan or plant-based eating. Instead of the eggs, you can use a flax egg replacement, and instead of the oil you can substitute applesauce.

In fact if you’re making this as a banana bread mix gift jar, there’s room at the top of the jar after layering to add a little baggie of the 2 tablespoons of flax seed needed, and to include a 4 oz snack pack of applesauce if you want to make it even handier for folks who would like that option.

You could also include a loaf pan when giving this bread jar mix for another gift giving idea.

Labeling Your Banana Bread Jar Mix

Finally, when making a jar mix recipe (especially if it’s to be used as a gift), you’ll want to label it with instructions for what ingredients need to be added to the contents of the jar when it’s time to make it, and the baking info. You can find all that info in Step 3 of the printable recipe below if you are typing up your own labels.

I also created some label options for you in some different styles that includes a couple with just the traditional instructions, the vegan option with the flax egg replacement and applesauce info, or a label that includes both! Use the button below to print your free labels.

It seems like jar mixes are so often for very sweet things like cookies and brownies and bars, so it’s nice to have an alternative like this banana bread mix for something not quite as rich. If you give this jar mix as a gift, the recipient will find it’s still easy to mix it with the additional ingredients – and – it bakes up into something yummy!