Ultimate Banana Bread
- Ready In:
- 1hr 30mins
- Ingredients:
- 10
- Yields:
-
1 Loaf
ingredients
- 1 3⁄4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 6 large bananas (very ripe)
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 2 large eggs
- 3⁄4 cup light-brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1⁄4 cup walnuts (optional)
directions
- Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.
- Adjust rack to middle. Spray Loaf pan with non-stick spray.
- Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl.
- Place five bananas in a extra large glass or other microwave safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with a paring knife. (NOTE: Use the biggest bowl you have the first time I did this the juice went all over my microwave, even though I had plastic wrap on my bowl.) Microwave on High until the bananas are soft and have released liquid, just about 5 minutes *may be less depending on your microwave wattage*. Transfer bananas to a fine mesh drainer placed over a medium pot and allow to drain stirring and mashing the bananas occassionally, 15 minutes (you should end up with around 1/2 to 3/4 cup of liquid).
- Cook the liquid in the pot over medium-high heat till reduced to about 1/4 cup, takes about 5 minutes. Remove the pot from heat , stir reduced liquid into the bananas and mash with a potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in the eggs and butter, brown sugar and vanilla.
- Pour the banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. You don't want to "over-mix" or it will make it tough. Gently fold in walnuts (optional).
- Scrape batter into prepared pan. Slice remaining banana onto top (like shingles on a roof) layered leaving a 1 1/2 inch space in the very middle. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 60 minutes.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
<p>Greatest of all, I am a Mom! The true miracle in my life so far is my beautiful daughter, Emily Rose. She is the joy of my life. My husband and I were blessed after nine years of marriage to finally be able to have her. I am also an artist. I love to paint with acrylics and I also use colored pencils. Perfectionist is my middle name. I am passionate about cooking. I love to cook for my daughter (who at almost three years old is not the easiest to please at the moment) and my husband, Tim. I have been more excited about cooking since discovering Recipezaar. It makes cooking and shopping for the ingredients easier. I just started adding some of my favorite recipes to the site and can't wait to see if anyone tries them. Keeping my fingers crossed that I get "good" reviews. <br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/adoptedspring08.jpg" /> <br /><br /><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/susied214/permanent%20collection/IWasAdoptedfall08.jpg" border="0" /></p>