The Best Banana Bread

I felt like all the “good moms” growing up made banana bread, my mom included. It’s something that is pretty much universally loved and brings up memories of childhood. There is just something so comforting and loving about it. My kids are also fickle in their intense love or sometimes complete refusal of bananas so I have bananas ripening on my kitchen counter more often than not.

I really wanted to find the best banana bread recipe ever, so my hunt was on. Now this search has one big ironic detail, I’m allergic to bananas! I was entirely counting on looks, smell and other people’s feedback. I tried about 6 different recipes with results ranging from “too cakey”, “too doughy”, “too light” and “too bland” before I finally landed on the bestbananabreadrecipeever!!! It made the house smell amazing like caramel and butter! I think realtors should skip the chocolate chip cookies and go straight for this recipe. The loaf is rich and dark. The texture is nicely marbled and moist but not damp. The taste, well I wouldn’t know, but I hear it is “soooo amazing!” Now I have one big confession about this recipe, the list of ingredients is not mine I found it on Food.com (https://www.google.ca/amp/www.food.com/amp/recipe/best-banana-bread-2886) .Other than adding some walnuts to make it perfect for my husband, it can not be modified for a better result in my opinion (trust me I’ve tried). But I make it a little differently, that is instruction wise, because, well, I only want to dirty one bowl and the results is perfection. Who can argue with perfection! I use a stand mixer, so why not let it do some of the work for me! It is easy to whip up before a play date or company arrives and on a weekend morning. Clean up is only one bowl, so you will be company ready before you know it!

Update: Muffins! I finally updated this to make the Best Banana Bread Muffins! Recipe edits listed below the original. Better yet, double the recipe and make a loaf and a dozen muffins. It freezes great so you can enjoy later.

The Best Banana Bread Ever

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3 ripe bananas- like I mean ripe bananas
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Set oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour the loaf pan and set aside.

Cream butter and sugar in mixer until light and fluffy. Add the whole bananas to butter and sugar mixture and continue to beat on medium speed until mostly even in texture. Add eggs and mix again on low.

Dump flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla on top and mix on low until just mixed.

Pour into loaf pan and flatten with a spatula. Bake in a preheated over for 55-60 minutes.

Update: if you’d like to make banana bread muffins instead of a loaf this recipe makes a dozen. Follow the same recipe, butter and flour the muffin tins to get that same banana bread crust. Add toppings like chocolate chips, or walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes!

Jess