Joy of Cooking Banana Bread Recipe
Banana bread is something special. The warm smell fills the kitchen, the soft texture with a bit of sweetness, and the happy memories it brings. The best part? A simple recipe from the famous cookbook Joy of Cooking. This isn’t just any banana bread—it’s a slice of history mixed with pure joy, carefully curated for anyone from seasoned bakers to absolute beginners.
Equipment
- A mixing bowl
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Spatula
- 9x5-inch loaf pan (lightly greased or lined with parchment paper)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas the riper, the better!
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for added warmth
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
- The first step to making banana bread is to get all your ingredients ready. Start with ripe bananas—bananas with brown spots are best because they are sweeter and easy to mash. Measure your dry ingredients like flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
- Then, prepare your wet ingredients like eggs, melted butter or oil, vanilla, and any extras like chocolate chips or nuts. Having everything ready will make baking simple and fun!
Step 2: Preheat and Prep Your Pan
- Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) before you start mixing. This helps your banana bread bake evenly. While the oven heats up, grease your loaf pan with butter or line it with parchment paper. This will make it easier to take the bread out of the pan after baking.
Step 3: Mash and Mix the Wet Ingredients
- Mash your ripe bananas in a bowl until smooth. Add melted butter or oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix everything together until it’s creamy. This helps spread the flavors evenly for your banana bread.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar into a separate bowl. Sifting helps avoid lumps and ensures all the dry ingredients are well mixed and aerated. This will contribute to a fluffier texture in your banana bread.
Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients. Use a spatula to gently mix them together. Don’t overmix, or the banana bread might turn out too dense. Mix until everything is just combined to make a thick batter. You can also stir in extras like nuts or chocolate chips for more flavor and texture.
Step 6: Pour and Bake
- Pour the batter into your loaf pan and spread it out evenly. Put the pan in the hot oven and bake for 50–60 minutes. Check if it’s done by poking a toothpick in the middle; if it comes out clean, the banana bread is ready. When it’s done, take it out of the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before moving it to a cooling rack.
Step 7: Slice and Enjoy
- When the banana bread is cool, you can slice it and enjoy your tasty treat. You can eat it plain, with butter, or even toasted. Banana bread is a yummy snack for any time of day. Share it with family and friends or keep the leftovers in a container to stay fresh for a few days.
Notes
Banana bread is best when made with overripe bananas for maximum flavor and sweetness. Avoid overmixing the batter to ensure a soft, moist texture, and allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent crumbling. Enjoy the process and experiment with add-ins to make it your own!