Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal share the family's banana bread recipe — and their baking video is full of surprises

A simple banana bread recipe doesn’t usually come with much backstory, but this one does. When Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal step into the kitchen together, it feels much more personal than just another baking video.

Their latest project

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s latest film, The Bride!, is a gothic romance that reimagines the classic Bride of Frankenstein story with a bold, modern twist. Directed and written by Maggie, the movie blends horror with bold themes and features a star-studded cast that includes her brother, Jake Gyllenhaal. He appears in a supporting role as a charismatic movie star within the story, marking the first time he’s been directed by his sister.

The banana bread

In a recent video from NYT Cooking, Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal step into the kitchen together to make their family’s banana bread recipe. The clip offers a relaxed look at their sibling dynamic, mixing humor, nostalgia, and a recipe that has clearly stood the test of time.

The two appear comfortable and playful as they bake, trading compliments and jokes throughout the process. Maggie opens with a candid expectation of how things will unfold. "The idea was that we were together going to show you how to bake our mom's banana bread. But Jake and I both know that what's going to happen is he's gonna bake our mom's banana bread, and I'm gonna hang out." Jake quickly follows with, "Welcome to our relationship."

As they begin mixing, Jake explains the recipe's origins. "It was taken from a cookbook, like the Sunbeam cookbook. But the thing that makes it really special is that all of the measurements have gotten fudged, and messed up, and rewritten in hand by our mother who got a number of the measurements not right." What started as a standard recipe has evolved over time into something more personal, shaped by trial, error, and family habit.

He adds another key detail about the ingredients: "Banana bread tastes the best when bananas are almost to their death."

As Jake butters the pan, Maggie questions whether he is using enough. He explains that a lighter coating is intentional, noting that too much butter can affect how the bread bakes and browns on the outside.

Rather than strictly following measurements, they adjust as they go and even poll crew members on whether to add more or less sugar than the recipe calls for. While Jake handles most of the mixing, he pauses to emphasize technique, scraping down the bowl to ensure everything is evenly combined.

When adding the eggs, he comments, "Such beautifully room temperature eggs," highlighting how small details can impact texture.

The conversation briefly turns to childhood memories when a crew member asks what they fought about growing up. Maggie answers, "He like bit me," while Jake quickly counters with, "You stuck a straw down my throat," prompting a moment of disagreement that feels very much like sibling banter.

As the bread heads into the oven, Jake shares a general bake time but emphasizes that doneness should always be checked with a toothpick rather than relying strictly on the clock.

The banana bread recipe is available to print on the NYT Cooking website.

Extra tips for making banana bread

Here are a few extra techniques that can make a noticeable difference in both texture and flavor.

Cream the butter and sugar longer than you think you need to. Taking an extra minute or two here helps incorporate air into the batter, resulting in a lighter crumb. When done properly, the mixture should look pale and slightly fluffy rather than dense or grainy. This step sets the foundation for the entire loaf. Learn how to cream butter and sugar here.

Swap in some brown sugar. Using part brown sugar instead of all white sugar adds moisture and a deeper flavor. The molasses in brown sugar gives the bread a slightly caramel-like taste that pairs perfectly with ripe bananas.

Fold in the dry ingredients by hand. Once you add the flour, skip the mixer. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold everything together just until combined. Overmixing at this stage can make the bread dense or tough, so mixing gently helps maintain a tender texture.

Try the butter line trick. Right before baking, spread a thin line of softened butter down the center of the batter. As the bread bakes, this encourages an even rise and creates that classic, bakery-style split down the middle. It’s a simple step that gives your loaf a more polished, professional look.