Master Recipe
Banana Bread
makes one 9-inch loaf
NOTE: The
success of this recipe depends on the use of very ripe bananas.
Otherwise, the bread will be too dry. Toast the nuts on a baking
sheet in a 350-degree oven until fragrant, about 6
minutes.
Vegetable cooking spray or unsalted butter for greasing loaf pan
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 very ripe, soft, darkly speckled large bananas, mashed well (about 11/2 cups)
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
11/4 cups toasted walnuts, chopped coarse (about 1 cup after chopping)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan; set aside.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt together in large bowl; set aside.
3. Mix mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter, and vanilla with wooden spoon in medium bowl. Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with rubber spatula until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky. Fold in walnuts. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan.
4. Bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Once cooled, bread can be wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature for a couple of days.
VARIATIONS:
Banana Chocolate Bread
Follow master recipe, reducing sugar to 10 tablespoons and adding 21/2 ounces grated bittersweet chocolate (a heaping 1/2 cup) along with walnuts.
Banana Coconut Bread with Macadamia Nuts
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Toast 1/2 cup flaked, sweetened coconut and 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts on small cookie sheet, stirring every 2 minutes, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Follow master recipe, substituting toasted macadamias and coconut for walnuts.
Orange-Spice Banana Bread
Follow master recipe, adding 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons grated orange zest to dry ingredients.