Introduction
Banana bread is a type of bread made from mashed bananas. It is often a moist, sweet, cake-like quick bread; however there are some recipes that are traditional-style raised breads. The bananas used in banana bread can be very ripe—black or covered with brown spots, the riper the banana, the better the banana bread. The bread is popular in many countries and is usually eaten as a snack, dessert, or breakfast.Ingredients
Making banana bread is easy. All you need are the following ingredients:- 3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Using a fork, mash the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the melted butter and sugar to the mashed bananas and mix together.
- Mix in the baking soda and salt.
- Beat the egg in a small bowl and then add to the banana mixture, stirring until combined.
- Mix in the vanilla extract.
- Add the flour last and mix together.
- Pour the batter into a greased 4×8-inch loaf pan.
- Bake for 1 hour.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan and serving.
Variations
Banana bread is a versatile recipe that can be easily modified. Some popular variations include:- Adding chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter.
- Swapping out the all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour.
- Adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter.
- Using dark brown sugar instead of white sugar.
- Adding a cup of chocolate chips or dried fruit.
Tips for Making the Best Banana Bread
- Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor. The riper the banana, the sweeter the banana bread.
- Be careful not to over mix the batter. Mix until just combined to avoid a tough texture.
- Make sure the butter is melted, but not hot. If the butter is too hot, it will cook the egg.
- Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Store banana bread in an airtight container to keep it fresh.