Cinnamon Banana Bread

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth.

Stir in the melted butter. Mix well to combine.

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

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.

If desired, fold in the chopped nuts at this point.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

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