It may be a cliché, but coming up with gift ideas for the men in your life can be a challenge.
Whatever the occasion, or simply just because, a bunch of flowers is always a safe bet when giving gifts to the women in your life. It then begs the question: What is the male equivalent? A quick search throws up a few obvious, if gender stereotypical, suggestions: a case of beer, for example, and a good sandwich.
But recently, a rather unexpected answer has been circulating on social media, receiving the men’s stamp of approval in the comments: banana bread.
The idea is supposedly traced back to a single comment on a TikTok post posing the age-old question that has confounded romantic partners for decades.
But in a case of groupthink, or because men really do love banana bread, the men in the comments unanimously agreed: Banana bread is men’s flowers.
@lacklustervideo If you bring me banana bread, you better mean it for LIFE 🥹😭 #bananabread #flowers #truelove #menaresimple #men
♬ Chopin Nocturne No. 2 Piano Mono – moshimo sound design
The news soon made its way to other social media platforms. “Recently learned the male equivalent of buying women flowers is making men banana bread. Huge discovery for women everywhere,” one user posted on X. “Banana bread is their Pumpkin Spice Latte,” another user replied.
Recently learned the male equivalent of buying women flowers is making men banana bread. Huge discovery for women everywhere
— Alex Friedman 🤠 (@heyalexfriedman) August 24, 2025
It has since started a trend of creators baking banana bread for their partners, sparking a fresh wave of banana bread recipe videos, the likes of which haven’t been seen since the banana bread boom of 2020.
@imhannahcarr If making banana bread for a man is the equivalent of them giving us flowers… then I say make the banana bread, ladies. MAKE 👏 THE 👏 BANANA 👏 BREAD 👏. & if you’re anything like me… you’ll be EXTRA EXTRA & make PUMPKIN BROWNED BUTTER BANANA BREAD 🎃🧈🍌🍞🤤… here’s the recipe. 😉 — 🍌🎃 Ultimate Browned Butter Pumpkin Banana Bread (Refined sugar free & DELICIOUS) Ingredients • 2 very ripe bananas (mashed, ~1 cup) • 1 cup pumpkin purée • 2 eggs (room temp) • ½ cup browned butter (see step below) • ⅓ cup pure maple syrup (or raw honey) • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour • 1 tsp baking soda • ¾ tsp baking powder • ½ tsp salt • 1 tsp cinnamon • ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice • Optional mix-ins: ½ cup chopped toasted pecans/walnuts OR ½ cup dark chocolate chips ⸻ Browned Butter Step 1. In a small saucepan, melt ½ cup butter over medium heat. 2. Stir constantly as it foams → turns golden → speckled with brown flecks. Smells nutty & caramel-y. 3. Pour into a heat-safe bowl to stop cooking; cool slightly before using. ⸻ Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a loaf pan with coconut oil or butter. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together: mashed bananas, pumpkin, eggs, cooled browned butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. 3. In another bowl, whisk dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. 4. Gently fold dry into wet until just combined (do not overmix). 5. Fold in any mix-ins. 6. Pour batter into pan. & top with chocolate or nuts (optional). 7. Bake 55–65 minutes until a toothpick comes out mostly clean (some melted chocolate = perfect). 8. Cool at least 20 minutes before slicing for clean cuts; even better if left overnight to deepen flavor. — Storage: 1. Room Temp (for 2–3 days) • Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or foil, or store in an airtight container. • Keeps it soft, moist, and flavorful. • Tip: Keep it out of direct sunlight or heat. 2. Fridge (up to 1 week) • Wrap tightly or store in an airtight container. • Will stay moist but may firm up slightly. • Reheat slices for 10–15 sec in the microwave to get that fresh-baked feel. 3. Freezer (up to 3 months) • Slice loaf first for easy grab-and-go. • Wrap each slice in plastic wrap, then foil (double protection) or put in a freezer bag. • Thaw slices at room temp or reheat 20–30 sec in microwave. #bananabread #bananabreadrecipe #pumpkinbread #fallbaking #fallrecipes
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It makes sense; after all, who doesn’t love banana bread? Baking a loaf checks the box of acts of service from the five love languages, with the thoughtful effort and warm comfort of home baking a foolproof way to show someone you care.
Some say that is exactly what baking banana bread means. Others, however, claim it is not the equivalent of buying a bunch of flowers. “Making banana bread can literally take hours,” one TikTok creator explained. “Buying flowers takes no effort or thought.”
If you don’t feel like baking, don’t fret. Contrary to popular belief, the viral discussion has many men revealing that they do, in fact, enjoy receiving flowers. According to one widely referenced statistic, 88% of men have never been given flowers. And of those who do, they will not receive them until their funeral.
Next time, just get your man some flowers.
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