Moist and tender banana bread (Printable Version)

A moist and tender loaf bursting with sweet banana flavor, perfect for breakfast or as a comforting snack.

# What You'll Need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
04 - ½ cup granulated sugar
05 - ¼ cup brown sugar
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

07 - 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
09 - ½ teaspoon salt
10 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Add-ins

11 - ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
12 - ½ cup chocolate chips

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.
04 - Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix to ensure tender texture.
05 - Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans and chocolate chips if desired.
06 - Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth top evenly.
07 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
08 - Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its the perfect solution for bananas that look past their prime but are actually at their flavor peak
  • The texture is impossibly moist without being dense or heavy like some quick breads can be
  • Your entire house will smell like warm comfort while it bakes, which is reason enough alone
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter will make your bread tough and dense, so stop folding as soon as the flour disappears
  • Every oven bakes differently, so start checking at 50 minutes rather than assuming it needs the full 60
  • Letting the bread cool completely before slicing prevents it from crumbling and gives the structure time to set
03 -
  • Use a glass measuring cup to melt your butter in the microwave, then mash your bananas directly into the same cup to save dishes
  • If your bananas are not quite ripe enough, bake them in their skins at 300°F for 15 minutes to speed up the process
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