Banana Bread from Joy of Cooking

Step 1

Banana Bread

Step 2

Makes 1 full-sized loaf or 2 small loaves

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 350.

Step 4

In one bowl, combine:

Step 5

2 stick (4-5 tablespoons) butter, softened

Step 6

eggs

Step 7

or 3 very ripe bananas

Step 8

3 cup sugar

Step 9

Use a potato masher, fork, or spoon to squish the banana and mix the ingredients together. It is alright for there to be small (1 centimeter) chunks of banana in the batter, but you want most of the banana to be reduced to mush.

Step 10

In another bowl, combine:

Step 11

1/3 cup all-purpose unbleached flour

Step 12

4 teaspoon salt

Step 13

2 teaspoon baking soda

Step 14

4 teaspoon baking powder

Step 15

2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Step 16

Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until the ingredients are blended together.

Step 17

If you like, stir in additional ingredients here, such as chopped walnuts or pecans, dried cherries or apricots, or chocolate chips. A handful (about a half a cup) is about right.

Step 18

Pour the dough into greased baking pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Small loaves take around 30 minutes, a normal-sized loaf takes around 50 minutes.

Step 19

Remove from the oven. This bread is great warm, but it is excellent cold too.

Step 20

After they have cooled for 5 or 10 minutes the loaves can be removed from the pan to cool. Once they are cool they can be individually wrapped and frozen.

Step 21

Enjoy