Banana Bread

This a great basic banana bread I discovered in Betty Crocker's Best Loved Recipes. That cook book is actually a compilation of favorite recipes from people that love Betty Crocker... which means that there are lots of tried and true recipes in there. I alternate this recipe with Martha Stewart's Banana Bread recipe. I love them both! Banana bread smells so good as it's baking and those first few slices, steaming from the oven, are delicious! I also love how it stays moist and wonderful in the fridge so that cold slices the next day are just as good. Banana bread is definitely a comfort food for me.

Banana Bread

submitted by Brittany ~ www.thesisterscafe.com

printable recipe

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 or 4 medium)

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches, or one loaf pan, 9 x 5 x 3 inches. Mix sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt until just moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour. Bake 9-inch loaf about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pans on wire rack. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack until completely cooled. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days or refrigerate up to 10 days.