Moist Banana Bread

Ingredients

3 very ripe bananas, (medium/large)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a bread loaf pan ( long x wide x deep). Lightly roast walnuts on a skillet, continuously stirring so they won’t burn. Coarsely chop and cool to room temperature.

In a mixing bowl, cream together 8 Tbsp softened butter and 3/4 cup sugar.

Mash bananas with a fork until the consistency of chunky applesauce and add them to the batter along with 2 eggs, mixing until blended.

In a separate bowl, whisk together: 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 tsp of baking soda and 1/2 tsp of salt then add to batter.

Add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and mix in chopped walnuts and raisins.

Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350˚F for 55-60 min or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let banana bread rest for 10 min before transferring to a wire rack to cool.