Best Banana Bread Recipe
Banana bread is a classic, but not all recipes are created equal.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas mashed, about 1 ½ cups
- 1/3 cup melted butter unsalted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar adjust to ½ cup for less sweetness
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- Optional: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or ½ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Mash the Bananas:
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be!
Mix Wet Ingredients:
- Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas. Add the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
Add Dry Ingredients:
- Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and stir. Gently fold in the flour (and cinnamon, if using) until just combined—don’t overmix! If you’re adding walnuts, fold them in now.
Bake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool & Serve:
- Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack. Slice and enjoy warm or at room temperature!