Amazing Classic Banana Bread

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. Leave some small chunks for added texture if you prefer.

Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.

Add the granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to the banana mixture. Mix well until the ingredients are fully combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

If using, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.

Once baked, remove from the oven and let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.