Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract and mashed bananas.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in the chopped walnuts, if using.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your homemade banana bread!
Tips:
- For a moister bread, use overripe bananas with brown spots.
- To enhance the flavor, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
- For a healthier version, substitute half of the butter with applesauce.
- To add a crunchy twist, sprinkle some brown sugar on top of the batter before baking.
Enjoy your delicious homemade banana bread!