Description
Banana bread brings pure comfort right to your kitchen table. Grab those ripe bananas and create something deliciously warm that makes your whole house smell incredible.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 ripe bananas
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 large eggs
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional Add-ins:
- ½ cup chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or parchment paper, ensuring your bread won’t stick.
- Grab 3 ripe bananas and mash them thoroughly with a fork until they become a smooth, creamy texture in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour ½ cup melted butter into the mashed bananas, then crack 2 large eggs, add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 cup granulated sugar. Whisk everything together until perfectly blended.
- In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Gently stir the dry ingredients to distribute evenly.
- Slowly incorporate the flour mixture into the banana mixture, stirring carefully to maintain a light, tender consistency. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks remain.
- If desired, fold in ½ cup of chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, or pecans for an extra layer of flavor and crunch.
- Transfer the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula to create an even surface.
- Slide the pan into the preheated 350°F oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean with just a few moist crumbs.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Choose very ripe, almost black bananas for the most intense flavor and natural sweetness.
- Resist overmixing the batter, which can make your banana bread tough and dense instead of tender.
- Fold in chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit right before baking to customize your bread without weighing down the batter.
- Store wrapped tightly at room temperature for 3-4 days, or freeze slices for up to 3 months for a quick breakfast or snack.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes - 1 hour
- Category: Breads
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 253 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 195 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg