Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for preparing the pan
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 very ripe bananas, peeled, and mashed with a fork (about 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces
Method:
- Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl, set aside. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a liquid measuring cup with a spout, set aside. Lightly brush a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan with butter. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with an electric hand-held mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually pour the egg mixture into the butter while mixing until incorporated.
- Add the bananas (the mixture will appear to be curdled, so don’t worry), and remove the bowl from the mixer.
- With a rubber spatula, mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the nuts and transfer the batter to the prepared pan.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
- Cool the bread in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
- Turn the bread out of the pan and let cool completely on the rack.
- Wrap in plastic wrap. The banana bread is best if served the next day.
