National Banana Day is a fun day dedicated to honoring one of the world’s most popular fruits: the banana! The day is all about enjoying bananas in various forms, whether eating them on their own, adding them to a smoothie, or trying creative recipes. Here’s a classic banana bread recipe that’s easy to make and delicious! It’s perfect for using up ripe bananas.
Ingredients:
- 2 to 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup sugar (you can adjust this based on how sweet you like it)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions:
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Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 4×8 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
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Mash the bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth (a few small lumps are fine).
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Mix the wet ingredients: Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas. Then add the beaten egg, vanilla extract, and sugar. Mix until well combined.
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Add the dry ingredients: Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and stir it in. Then add the flour, mixing just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix; it can make the bread dense.
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Pour into the pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.
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Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts browning too quickly, cover it with aluminum foil.
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Cool: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips:
- If you like, you can add chocolate chips, nuts (like walnuts or pecans), or cinnamon for extra flavor.
- Overripe bananas work best since they’re sweeter and mash easily.
Enjoy your delicious banana bread! 🍌🍞