mmmm buttery banana bread

The Hubs told me the other day he’s been buying SOME OTHER LADY’S banana bread on campus lately as a mid-morning snack.  I felt as if I’d been slapped.  Ok, so I haven’t baked in a while, but still!?  I definitely had some rotten bananas on hand this week.  Couple my rotten bananas with The Hubs eating some other woman’s bread and I definitely wanted to make banana bread!  It only takes a couple of rotten bananas and an hour or so worth of your time to make delicious warm homemade banana bread.  Totally worth your extra effort.  I like to add Greek yogurt and poppy seeds to my banana bread.  I’m not a nut fan but poppy seeds give it that extra little pop and tiny crunch that is just perfect.

when life gives your rotten bananas, make bread!

First things first, make sure you take the butter out of the fridge as soon as you begin thinking about making banana bread.  Let the butter soften and come to room temperature.  While the butter is tempering, in a medium-sized bowl whisk together flour, baking soda and salt, then set aside.  In a stand blender or handheld mixer, blend the softened butter together with the sugar until fluffy and creamy.  Next add your eggs and blend until incorporated.  Dump flour mixture into butter mixture and mix until just blended.  Lastly, add mashed bananas, yogurt, vanilla and poppy seeds.  If you desire nuts, now would also be the time to toss them into the mix.  Pecans or walnuts are the usual choice, but feel free to get crazy with whatever nut you love best.  I’m not a nut fan but if I had to choose I’d pick almonds.  Pour batter into a greased (Pam or use real butter) 9x5x3″ loaf pan and bake at 350 for 50 minutes to an hour.  Banana bread is good to go if you insert a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean.

cool your loaf, yo

Place on a rack to allow to cool, but I like it best when it’s sliced while still warm and then, of course, slathered with butter.  YUMMMMMM.

Banana Bread
Prep time: 15 minutes (plus an hour to temper the butter)
Cook time: 1:10 minutes

Print This Recipe!

• 1 stick butter at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1 cup overripe (see above photo!) bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon good vanilla extract
• OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and remove butter allowing it to come to room temperature
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a medium-sized bowl, then set aside.
3. In a stand blender or handheld mixer, blend the softened butter with the sugar until fluffy and creamy.
4. Add eggs to the butter mixture and blend until incorporated.
5. Add flour mixture into butter and egg mixture and mix until just blended, do not overmix.
6. Lastly, add mashed bananas, yogurt, vanilla, and poppy seeds (and optional nuts) to the batter.
7. Pour batter into a greased 9″x5″x3″ loaf pan and bake at 350 for 50 minutes to an hour.  Banana bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Remove from loaf pan and place on rack to allow to cool
9. Serve warm, slathered with butter.