Banana Bread

Aunt Jeanne’s Banana Bread

Makes 1 loaf banana bread

The best recipes are always handwritten on paper and shared by loved ones. This one belonged to my partner’s Aunt Jeanne. It’s a tried and true banana bread you’re sure to love. We’ve made it many times at home and have come up with lots of variations.

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup neutral oil
• 1 1/4 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup something fun

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour one loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs until lightly beaten. Add sugar, oil, banana, and vanilla.
4. Gently fold dry wet ingredients into dry with a silicone spatula. If you want to mix in something tasty, like chopped nuts or chocolate chips, do that here!
5. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes. To test if your banana bread is done, place a toothpick in the center; if it comes out clean it is done but if it comes out with a bit of batter on it, place it back in the oven for another few minutes.
6. Remove from oven and cool on a cooling rack. Gently remove banana bread from loaf pan, slice, and enjoy.

*Have lots of bananas going bad? Peel and freeze them until you’re ready to bake banana bread. In the mood to spend the day baking? Even better! Go ahead and use up your old bananas, make a few loaves of banana bread, and freeze the baked loaves for another time (or if you’re really nice, you might gift one to a friend or neighbor).

By Nicole Marriner