Best Ever Banana Bread (Printer-friendly)

Moist, tender banana bread bursting with rich banana flavor and warm spices. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet treat any time of day.

# What You'll Need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 3 large ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/4 cups)
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
04 - 1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

06 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
09 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Optional Add-ins

13 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
14 - 1/2 cup chocolate chips

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms those guilt inducing forgotten bananas into the most incredible breakfast or snack
  • The texture is impossibly moist without being dense, striking that perfect balance between cake and bread
02 -
  • Overmixing develops too much gluten, resulting in tough bread instead of tender
  • Every oven is different, so start checking at 50 minutes rather than relying solely on the timer
03 -
  • Roast your bananas in a 400°F oven for 15 minutes before mashing for an even deeper, more complex flavor
  • Place a pan of water on the bottom rack of your oven while baking to keep the bread incredibly moist

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