Banana Bread
Ingredients
4–5 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup melted butter, cooled
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Optional Add-Ins
(I like to add around ¼–½ cup)
Chocolate chips
Nuts, such as walnuts or almonds
Dried fruit, like raisins or cranberries
Fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries
Optional Toppings
Cream Cheese Frosting
2 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Pinch of salt
optional: 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a loaf tin with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
In a bowl, mash or blend the ripe bananas until smooth.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and brown sugar until well combined and slightly aerated. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
Sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Gently mix until just combined, then fold in the melted butter. If using add-ins, fold them in at this stage.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and bake for 30–40 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow to cool for 10 minutes before attempting to slice. Sprinkle with powdered sugar for extra deliciousness and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks:
You can substitute oil for butter in this recipe, but keep in mind that the final texture and flavor may differ slightly.
If your bananas aren’t ripe yet, place them unpeeled on a baking tray and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the skins are dark and the bananas are very soft. The exact timing will depend on their initial ripeness. Allow the bananas to cool slightly before adding them to the mixture, as adding them while too hot can cook the eggs.
To make the cream cheese frosting, cream together the butter and cream cheese. Mix in the vanilla extract. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and salt, making sure to whisk until combined. If desiring a thicker consistency, add more sifted powdered sugar. If desiring a thinner consistency, add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time.
Plant-Based Option:
You can easily make this recipe plant-based by swapping the melted butter for plant-based butter, increasing the baking powder to 2 teaspoons instead of 1, and replacing the eggs with a flax egg. To replace 2 eggs, combine 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed with 6 tablespoons water and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes, or until thickened.
