Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)
Directions
- Preheat oven:
- Set oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Prepare the wet ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth.
- Stir in the melted butter until well combined.
- Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract; mix until the batter is smooth.
- Add dry ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, stirring just until combined (don’t overmix).
- Add mix-ins (optional):
- Fold in walnuts or chocolate chips if desired.
- Bake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and serve:
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Serving Tips
- Serve warm with butter or honey drizzle for a cozy treat.
- Pairs perfectly with coffee or tea.
- Store leftovers wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Baker’s Tip
For extra moist banana bread, use overripe bananas with brown spots and avoid overmixing the batter once flour is added.