Classic Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 3 (345 g)very ripe bananas, mashed— about 1½ cups
• ½ cup (113 g)unsalted butter, browned
• ¾ cup (160 g)brown sugar, packed
• 2 (100 g)large eggs— room temperature
• 1 tsp (4 g)vanilla extract
• 1½ cups (180 g)all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp (6 g)baking soda
• ½ tsp (3 g)salt
• 1 tsp (3 g)ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment.

2. 2

   Brown the butter: melt in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, swirling, until it smells nutty and the milk solids turn golden, 4–5 minutes. Let cool slightly.

3. 3

   In a large bowl, mash the bananas until mostly smooth. Whisk in the browned butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

4. 4

   Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Fold with a spatula just until no dry streaks remain — do not overmix.

5. 5

   Scrape into the pan and bake 50–60 minutes, until a skewer in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.

6. 6

   Cool in the pan 10 minutes, then lift out and cool on a rack before slicing.

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