Basic Banana Bread
I've made many loaves of banana bread with yogurt, sour cream, cooked bananas and other techniques, but this basic recipe is the one that I always come back to make again and again.
Ingredients
- 3 large very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 if using dark pan). Line the bottom of an 8 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease sides and paper. Set aside
- In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork until nearly smooth. Add melted butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. Mix well.
- In a medium bowl combine flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixing just until flour disappears.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean
- Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan, remove parchment paper and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Slices can be be wrapped in plastic and kept at room temperature for several days. Whole loaf, or individual slices, can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Very ripe bananas are the key to sweet banana bread. The darker and spottier the better!