Creating your crispy old-fashioned banana bread is straightforward! Follow these steps for delicious results:
Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal later.
Mash Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth using a fork or potato masher. You want them nicely blended with minimal lumps.
Add Wet Ingredients: To the mashed bananas, add melted butter, eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract (if using). Mix until well combined.
Sift Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon if desired. This process aerates the flour for better consistency.
Combine Mixtures: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a spatula until just combined—be careful not to overmix!
Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top. Bake in preheated oven for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let it cool slightly before removing from pan.
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