Classic Banana Bread

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

In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. You should have about 1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas.

Add the softened butter to the mashed bananas and mix until well combined.

Stir in granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, stirring until just combined. Do not overmix; it’s okay if the batter is a bit lumpy.

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

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.

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

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