No matter how you slice it, classic banana bread is moist and delicious, and filled with yummy banana goodness! Everyone knows bananas contain healthy vitamins, minerals and potassium, but did you know brown spotted bananas have more antioxidants, and are actually sweeter than their yellow/green counterparts? It’s true! But as bananas brown, they tend to be too mushy to eat. Don’t throw them out! Homemade banana bread is the perfect solution for overripe bananas. Once you know how to make it, mix things up and go beyond the basics with delicious recipe add-ins and toppings! We’ll show you how.

Classic Banana Bread

Don’t let the name fool you. It may be baked in a loaf pan, but banana bread has a cake-like texture, perfect for breakfast or as a delicious snack any time of day! Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan with butter and flour. In a large bowl, blend 3 overripe bananas with 1/3 cup of melted butter, ½ cup of granulated sugar, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 beaten egg, and a teaspoon and a half of real vanilla extract, using a spoon or mixer on low speed. (If using a spoon to stir, mash the bananas with a fork before you begin).  Sprinkle a ¼ teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda on top of your wet ingredients, and then gently fold in 1 and ½ cups of all-purpose, unbleached flour. Bake for approximately one hour, or until golden brown and baked through. You can insert a toothpick or cake tester to check for doneness. Cool slightly, then remove your loaf from the pan. Serve warm, or cool thoroughly and store your bread wrapped or tightly covered in the refrigerator for later.

15 Banana Bread Add-Ins

• Walnut pieces
• Pecan pieces
• Macadamia nuts
• Chopped almonds
• Ground cinnamon
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• Butterscotch chips
• Hazelnut spread (swirl inside batter)
• Peanut butter (swirl inside batter)
• Shredded coconut
• Raisins
• Dried cranberries
• Fresh blueberries
• Diced, peeled apples

7 Banana Bread Toppings

Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup of granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and sprinkle evenly on top before baking.

Cinnamon Brown Sugar: In a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and sprinkle evenly on top before baking.

Cinnamon Walnuts: In a small food processor, ground ½ cup of shelled walnuts. Mix in 1 tablespoon of Ground Cinnamon and 1/4 cup of brown or granulated sugar and sprinkle evenly on top before baking.

Cinnamon Pecans: In a small food processor, ground ½ cup of shelled pecans. Mix in 1 tablespoon of Ground Cinnamon and 1/4 cup of brown or granulated sugar and sprinkle evenly on top before baking.

Cinnamon Crumble: In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of softened butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle evenly on top before baking.

Lemon Glaze: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice until blended, and pour evenly on top after baking.

Vanilla Glaze: In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 cup of powdered sugar, and 2 teaspoons of real vanilla extract until blended, and pour evenly on top after baking.

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Hey Foodies! At TheRTAStore we help make your dream kitchen a reality with RTA (Ready To Assemble) cabinets, Pre-Assembled cabinets, and accessories with the same (if not better) quality you would find at any retail store but for a fraction of the price. Stop by our website or give us a call and let one of our friendly kitchen designers help make your kitchen dreams come true!