Description
A moist and flavorful banana bread packed with ripe bananas, toasted walnuts, and sweet raisins. This classic recipe delivers a perfectly tender crumb with a lovely balance of sweetness and nuttiness, ideal for breakfast or a comforting snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Banana Bread Batter
- 3 very ripe bananas (medium/large)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (8 Tbsp), at room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup walnuts
- ½ cup raisins
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan and Walnuts: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a bread loaf pan measuring approximately 9.25 by 5.25 by 2.75 inches. Then, lightly toast the walnuts in a skillet over medium heat, stirring continuously to avoid burning. Once toasted, roughly chop the walnuts and allow them to cool to room temperature.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar using a hand or stand mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Mash Bananas and Combine: Mash the ripe bananas with a fork until chunky, like applesauce. Add the mashed bananas and lightly beaten eggs to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until well blended.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet batter, mixing just until combined to avoid overmixing.
- Add Flavorings and Mix-ins: Stir in the vanilla extract, chopped walnuts, and raisins until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Bake the Banana Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350°F for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Let the banana bread rest in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve once cooled.
Notes
- Using very ripe bananas ensures maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Lightly toasting walnuts enhances their flavor and crunch.
- You can substitute honey for granulated sugar for a natural sweetness.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread tender.
- Allow the bread to cool before slicing to prevent crumbling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 1/10 of the loaf)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
