Best Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups (345g) mashed bananas (about 3 to 4 ripe bananas)
• 1/3 cup (80g) plain Greek yogurt or full-fat sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Optional: 3/4 cup (90g) chopped pecans or walnuts, or 1 cup (180g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Before you cook

• Move the oven rack to the lower third and preheat to 350F (177C).
• Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.
• Mash the ripe bananas and bring the eggs and yogurt to room temperature.

Steps

1. Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together in a medium bowl.
2. Beat the softened butter with the brown sugar on medium-high speed for about 3 minutes, until light and creamy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
4. Beat in the mashed bananas, yogurt and vanilla until combined.
5. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until no flour remains.
6. Fold in the nuts or chocolate chips if using.
7. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and level the top.
8. Bake 60 to 65 minutes, tenting the loaf loosely with foil halfway through to stop over-browning.
9. Test with a toothpick; it should come out with only a few moist crumbs.
10. Cool the loaf in the pan on a rack for 1 hour.
11. Turn the loaf out onto the rack and cool completely before slicing.