Description
Indulgent banana bread emerges as a classic comfort treat, blending ripe bananas with warm spices. Moist crumb and rich flavors invite you to savor each delightful slice of this timeless homestyle dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup melted butter
Sweeteners and Flavoring:
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped nuts
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by heating to 350°F (175°C) and coating a 9×5-inch loaf pan with a thin layer of grease to prevent sticking.
- Transform ripe bananas into a creamy pulp by mashing them thoroughly until no substantial chunks remain.
- Introduce melted butter, granulated sugar, beaten eggs, and fragrant vanilla extract to the mashed bananas, blending the mixture until smooth and uniform.
- Gently incorporate flour, baking soda, and salt into the wet ingredients, stirring minimally to avoid overworking the batter and maintaining a tender texture.
- If desired, delicately fold chocolate chips or chopped nuts into the batter, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture.
- Transfer the completed batter into the prepared loaf pan, ensuring an even surface for consistent baking.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, monitoring the bread’s progress by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean when the bread is fully cooked.
- Allow the freshly baked banana bread to rest in the pan for 10 minutes, which helps it set and prevents crumbling.
- Carefully release the bread from the pan and position it on a wire cooling rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Ripeness matters hugely for maximum banana flavor, so use overripe bananas with dark brown or black spots for sweetest results.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond or coconut flour, ensuring texture remains moist and tender.
- Add extra warmth by sprinkling cinnamon or nutmeg into batter for deeper, more complex flavor profile.
- Prevent chocolate chips from sinking by tossing them in a tablespoon of flour before folding into mixture, helping them distribute evenly throughout bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg