Easy Banana Bread 

This banana bread transforms overripe bananas into a moist, tender loaf with deep flavor. The simple batter combines mashed bananas with pantry staples like flour, butter, and brown sugar, enhanced with warm cinnamon notes. Customize your loaf with nuts or chocolate chips for added texture and flavor. The bread bakes to a golden perfection in about an hour, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma. The result is a versatile treat that works as breakfast, snack, or dessert slightly warm with a pat of butter or at room temperature with your favorite beverage.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups (195g) all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 3 medium (7" to 7-7/8" long) very ripe bananas, peeled (about 1¼ to 1½ cups mashed)

• ⅓ cup (76g) unsalted butter, melted

• ¾ cup (150g) light brown sugar

• 2 large eggs, beaten

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Optional: ½ cup (60g) chopped walnuts or chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.

2. Mash Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth, leaving a few small chunks for texture.

3. Combine Wet Ingredients: Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas. Add the brown sugar, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.

4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

6. Add Optional Mix-ins: If desired, fold in chopped walnuts or chocolate chips.

7. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

8. Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 220 kcal

• Fat: 7g

• Carbohydrates: 37g

• Protein: 3g