Description
This classic Banana Bread recipe yields a moist, flavorful loaf perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Made with ripe mashed bananas, warm cinnamon, and a balanced blend of sugars and butter, the bread is tender with a subtle sweetness and delightful aroma. Easy to prepare and bake, it produces 12 servings of delicious homemade banana bread that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1â…“ cups mashed bananas (about 4 small bananas)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened) or vegetable oil
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mash Bananas: Using a fork, mash the bananas until you have about 1â…“ cups of mashed bananas with a few small lumps remaining.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a separate medium bowl, using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream the softened butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is fluffy and light, about 2 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract followed by the mashed bananas until evenly combined.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the banana mixture. Stir gently just until combined to avoid overmixing, which can make the bread dense.
- Pour and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake in the oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Avoid overbaking to keep the bread moist.
- Cool: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then remove it from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas with brown spots for the best sweetness and flavor.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding the flour to keep the bread tender.
- You can substitute vegetable oil for butter if you prefer a dairy-free option.
- Check for doneness starting at 45 minutes as baking times can vary based on oven and pan size.
- Allow the bread to cool fully for best slicing results and to enhance flavor.
