Nana's Banana Bread

Raquel Grinnell's Note:

The best banana bread I've ever tried; from D.C.'s Bayou Bakery owner and pastry chef David Guas' own grandma's recipe. The buttermilk MAKES it. Absolutely amazing.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 10 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6-8

Yield: 1.0 loaf

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter , room temperature, plus more for the pan
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour , plus more for the pan
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 bananas , very ripe
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar , packed
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup buttermilk

Directions:

1. 1. Heat the oven to 350°. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-by-3-inch loaf pan with butter, then dust with flour.
2. 2. In a bowl, sft together the 1¾ cups flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, mash the bananas with the lemon juice.
3. 3. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the 1 stick of butter with the sugar and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add a third of the dry ingredients and half of the buttermilk; mix. Repeat until all of the dry ingredients and buttermilk are incorporated, then beat in the banana mixture.
4. 4. Pour the mixture into the loaf pan and bake in the middle of the oven for 60 to 70 minutes, until the top of the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and let it cool completely.