Joy Of Cooking Banana Bread Recipe
This recipe yields a classic, moist banana bread, rich with the sweetness of ripe bananas and the crunch of toasted nuts. It's an easy-to-follow method that combines dry and wet ingredients separately before gently folding in nuts for a perfectly baked, comforting treat.
Equipment
- 1 Loaf Pan 8.5x4.5 inch or similar
- 2 Mixing Bowls One large for dry ingredients, one medium for wet
- 1 Whisk or Spatula For mixing ingredients
- 1 Measuring Cups and Spoons For accurate ingredient measurement
- 1 Fork or Potato Masher For mashing bananas
Ingredients
Main
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans toasted and coarsely chopped
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon i used 1/2 tsp. and it was perfect as i find a full tsp. a little too much for my taste
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 3 ripe large bananas mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- Toast walnuts or pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until fragrant, then coarsely chop and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon.
- In a separate medium bowl, mash the ripe bananas well with a fork or potato masher.
- To the mashed bananas, add the lightly beaten eggs, melted and cooled unsalted butter, and vanilla extract; mix until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the wet banana mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Mix gently with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Fold in the toasted and chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
For the best flavor and moisture, ensure your bananas are very ripe, with plenty of brown spots. Overmixing the batter can lead to tough banana bread; mix only until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Toasting the walnuts or pecans before adding them significantly enhances their flavor and aroma. Allow the melted butter to cool slightly before adding it to the eggs to prevent them from scrambling. Always test for doneness with a toothpick and cool completely on a wire rack for optimal texture and ease of slicing.