For the LOVE of Banana Bread

This is a love letter to banana bread. That might seem kind of silly, but I truly couldn't think of a more deserving bread. Not only is it a warm treat, but it's one you can eat for breakfast. Like many of you I too took to the kitchen for comfort when the pandemic hit. Not only did it seem like a great time to dig up recipes that have been passed down in my family, but I had also made a resolution to become a better baker in the year of 2020. Out of all the things I have baked, banana bread seems to get the greatest reaction. Warm, buttery, and sweet smells waft through the house, and just like in the cartoons it seems to carry you to it's location. It's magic. That's where you'll find me.

Ingredients and Utensils

• Standard Loaf Pan (8-1/2in x 4-1/2in)
• Standard cupcake tin
• Parchment paper (if using a loaf pan) or cupcake liners (if using a cupcake tin)
• 3-4 ripe bananas
• 1 large egg
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt/kosher salt
• 1.5 cups of all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 1/3 cup room temperature butter
• 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips (OPTIONAL)

Serving size: 6 Nutritional facts per serving: Calories=348, Carbs=73.4g, Fat=4.6g, Protein=5.2g Saturated Fat=2.2g, Cholesterol=32g, Sodium=640.4mg, Fiber=4.1, Sugar=41g

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°, in the meanwhile line your muffin tin, or nonstick parchment paper in your loaf pan. I promise that doing this will help you when it comes to extracting your banana bread from is container.
• In a large bowl, mash the bananas with sugar, butter, vanilla, and egg. Mix together until smooth.
• In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining dry ingredients.
• Add your dry ingredients bowl, to your wet ingredients bowl. Mix together.
• It is at this point that you can add other fun ingredients such as chocolate chips, or nuts! If you're anything like me, you've probably chosen to go with chocolate chips. Well go ahead, do it up!
• Next, fill lined muffin tin, or loaf pan. If you are making muffins, make sure to leave at least a half of an inch of room from the top to allow the muffins room to rise!
• Bake for 20-25 mins. If you are baking the muffins, set the timer for 12m. The loaf or muffin will be done when you can stick a toothpick, skewer, fork down the center and it comes out clean. Once clean remove from the oven and allow to cool!