Classic Banana Bread with Melted Butter

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with butter or line it with parchment paper.

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

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

Add the sugar, egg, and vanilla extract to the banana mixture. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.

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

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing for a lighter texture.

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

Bake in preheated oven for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too much before the middle is done, cover it loosely with aluminum foil.

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