1. Prepare the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, then lightly dust it with flour.
2. Mash the Bananas
Peel the ripe bananas and place them in a large mixing bowl.
Mash them with a fork until mostly smooth. A few small banana pieces are fine and will add extra flavor and moisture.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar
In another large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until light and creamy.
This should take about 2–3 minutes.
4. Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
5. Add the Bananas and Sour Cream
Stir the mashed bananas into the butter mixture.
Add the sour cream and mix gently until everything is evenly combined.
6. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture.
Stir just until the flour disappears. Do not overmix, as this can make the bread dense.
7. Fill the Loaf Pan
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Smooth the top with a spatula.
For an optional bakery-style finish, place a banana sliced lengthwise on top before baking.
8. Bake
Place the loaf in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 55–70 minutes.
The bread is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.
If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil during the final part of baking.
9. Cool
Remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10–15 minutes.
Carefully transfer it to a wire rack and allow it to cool further before slicing.
10. Slice and Serve
Slice the bread into thick pieces and serve warm or at room temperature.
It’s delicious with butter, cream cheese, honey, or simply on its own with a cup of coffee or tea.
Tip: The riper and more spotted the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your banana bread will be. For an extra treat, you can also fold ½ cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips into the batter before baking.
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