How to Bake Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 large or 3 medium bananas
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional:

• 1/2 cup raisins and/or nuts (walnuts or pecans work well!) and/or chocolate chips

Mix Dry Ingredients

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients (flour, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt). Set aside.

Mix Wet Ingredients

Melt the butter, either over the stove or in a microwave. In a small bowl, mash the banana together with a fork. In a large bowl, mix the butter with the sugar. When mixed thoroughly, beat in the eggs, and then add the bananas and vanilla. If you want to add in any extras (raisin/nuts), this is the time.

Mix Dry and Wet Together

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Add a little bit and then stir thoroughly then add some more, continuing until well blended.

Bake and Enjoy!

Bake in the oven for approximately 1 hour. Test to see if it's ready by sticking a toothpick or sharp knife into the center. It should come out clean. If not, cook a little longer, checking every 5 minutes. Leave the loaf in the pan to cool and then eat and enjoy!

Tips

• If you notice your bananas going brown or mushy, but you don't want to make banana bread right away, just put them in the freezer. They'll turn black and sort of gross looking but will mash up well for this recipe. Don't forget to let them thaw before you mash them though!
• Butter and flour your loaf pan before pouring in the batter to prevent sticking. That just means that first you grease the bottom and sides of the pan with a little butter. Then drop a spoonful of flour in. Shake it around until there is a light dusting of flour covering the inside of the pan.