Classic Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/3 cup melted butter (or neutral oil)
• 3/4 cup sugar (use 1/2 cup if you like it less sweet)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• Optional: 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Optional mix-ins: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts/pecans or 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan (or line with parchment).
2. In a large bowl, mash bananas. Stir in melted butter.
3. Mix in sugar, egg, and vanilla until combined.
4. Sprinkle baking soda and salt over the batter and stir in.
5. Add flour (and cinnamon if using). Stir just until you don’t see dry flour—don’t overmix.
6. Fold in nuts or chocolate chips if using.
7. Pour into pan. Bake 50–65 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are fine).
8. Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then move to a rack to cool.

Quick tips

• The riper the bananas (lots of brown spots), the better.
• If the top is browning too fast, tent loosely with foil for the last 15–20 minutes.
• For extra moist bread: swap 2 tablespoons of the butter/oil for sour cream or plain yogurt.