Our very good friend Tamar, brought over a tray of banana bread, as a get-well gift for Jamie, who had back surgery last week. Tamar makes an awesome banana bread....it is dense, moist, not too sweet and tastes like banana. She gave me the recipe years ago. It is easy to make, and everyone loves it. Between the four of us in the house, the banana bread did not even make it to the next morning. Jamie went to take a slice before bed on the night Tamar brought over the banana bread, and it was already gone! I felt bad, because I had snuck a few pieces myself. After all, the banana bread was for Jamie! I told her to chill out, and that I would make her another banana bread the next day.
I was planning on making Tamar's banana bread recipe, but I must have misplaced her recipe, because I couldn't find it anywhere. She is currently on vacation with her family, so I decided to take an old banana bread recipe, and improve it. I wanted LOTS of flavor, so I decided to add some cinnamon and vanilla extract to the batter. I also increased the number of bananas from 3 to 5. Although I like my banana bread to be moist and dense, I added 1/2 tsp. of baking powder, just to assure it wouldn't be too heavy. I threw in a few chocolate chips, because I love chocolate chips in banana bread, but this recipe would be just as good plain, or with chopped nuts instead. Finally, I sprinkled the top with a few tablespoons of brown sugar for a sweet, rustic crunch on top.
I love the result...a moist, delicious banana bread, that has tons of banana flavor! It makes a great breakfast or snack, and can be eaten plain or toasted. It also freezes very well.
Banana Bread
2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. softened butter
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed, plus extra for sprinkling on top
2 eggs, beated
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 - 5 ripe bananas, mashed
OPTIONAL: 3/4 c. chocolate chips, cinnamon chips or chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9 X 5 loaf pan with nonstick spray.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.
Mix in eggs and mashed banana until well blended.
Stir in flour mixture, just until well moistened. Fold in chips/nuts. Do not over-mix.
Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the top of the batter with brown sugar.
Bake in preheated oven for 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
