Easy Banana Bread 

This Easy 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. It's 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

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 2 large eggs

• 1½ cups overripe bananas (about 3–4 bananas)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven:
   Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan thoroughly, ensuring all corners are covered to prevent sticking.

2. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon until well combined.

3. Prepare Wet Ingredients:
   In a large bowl, mash the overripe bananas until mostly smooth with some small chunks remaining for texture. Add the melted butter and brown sugar, mixing until well combined and slightly lighter in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
   Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing to ensure a tender loaf.

5. Add Optional Mix-ins:
   If using, fold in the chopped walnuts or chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

6. 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.

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

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: Approximately 245 kcal

• Protein: 3 g

• Carbohydrates: 37 g

• Fat: 7 g

• Saturated Fat: 4 g

• Cholesterol: 35 mg

• Sodium: 85 mg

• Potassium: 156 mg

• Fiber: 1 g

• Sugar: 19 g