- Ultimate Banana Bread

ULTIMATE BANANA BREAD

1¾ c flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp table salt
5 frozen bananas (defrosted)
1 fresh banana
½ c unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 large eggs
¾ c packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ c toasted coarsely chopped nuts (optional)
2 tsp white sugar

Adjust oven racks to middle position and preheat oven to 350°. Spray 8½ x 4½ loaf pan with Pam.

Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl.

Mash the defrosted bananas and whisk in the butter, eggs, brown sugar and vanilla.

Pour the banana mixture into the flour mixture until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in the nuts if using. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Slice the fresh banana diagonally into ¼ inch thick slices. Shingle banana slices on top of either side of the loaf, leaving 1½ inch wide space down the center to ensure even rise. Sprinkle the white sugar evenly over the loaf.

Bake until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 55 to 75 minutes. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 15 minutes, then remove loaf from the pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

1. I have been freezing bananas for years so this recipe is perfect for me. If you have bananas that are overripe (which increases the sugar content exponentially) simply pop them into the freezer for use later.
2. I doubled the recipe and it worked great.
3. I think this is the best recipe I have ever tried, and I have tried a lot!!