Ultimate Banana Bread
A delightful banana bread recipe overflowing with natural sweetness from ripe bananas, perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups very ripe bananas, mashed Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots for optimal flavor.
- ½ cup granulated sugar or packed brown sugar Brown sugar adds caramelized notes; granulated keeps it light.
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter or neutral vegetable oil Butter adds richness; oil keeps bread moist.
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature Adds structure and moisture.
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Elevates flavors with aroma.
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour Provides essence and structure.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda Helps the bread rise.
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt Enhances flavors.
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Warm spice complementing bananas.
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg Adds seasonal flavor.
- ½ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped Adds crunch and richness.
- 2 tablespoons reserved walnuts for topping Enhances texture and presentation.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas until smooth, leaving some small chunks for added texture.
- Add sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla to the mashed bananas and whisk together until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until uniformly mixed.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the banana mixture until just combined.
- Stir in ½ cup of chopped walnuts.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and sprinkle the reserved walnuts on top.
Baking
- Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For best results, choose ripe bananas and avoid overmixing the batter. Allow cooling time for easier slicing. Variations include using whole wheat flour or other add-ins like chocolate chips.