Most Amazing Banana Bread Recipe Ever

If you are like me, you probably LOVE Hawaii and all things tropical.  One of my favorite memories from our honeymoon in Hawaii was stopping at the side of the road for deliciously sweet homemade banana bread.  I personally feel that bananas taste better when added to something else.  Add bananas to pancakes, puddings, breads and all of a sudden, you have that perfect twist.  Like a pleasant surprise, bananas always add fun and flavor to cooking!  Although out of the many recipes I have tried to figure out how to make that perfect banana bread loaf, this recipe shines.  I hope you enjoy creating this banana bread as much as I did!  This one will be my favorite by far!

The first thing you need to do is gather all your ingredients.  This is the first thing I do...I make sure I have some ripe bananas, at least 3-4.  I use 3 1/2 extra large ripe bananas for this recipe to get that banana flavor.  I also make sure I have a lemon handy. The butter has to be left out to soften at room temperature.  I use organic all-purpose flour, organic brown sugar from Trader Joe's, Costco's organic regular sugar, 2 organic eggs, organic buttermilk...you get the idea.  I'm adverse to pesticides.  I feel people get exposed to enough toxins when they go to get gas at the gas station.  Anyway, first thing is to gather all your ingredients.

The next thing I do is combine the bananas with the lemon in a medium-sized bowl and make sure it is all incorporated.  I use a separate bowl for this.  Then, I set this banana and lemon mixture to the side.

Next, I combine all my dry ingredients in another medium size bowl.  I combine the all-purpose flour with baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.  Then, I set this mixture to the side. 

Combine the white sugar, brown sugar, and butter in a bowl.  

Mix the sugar and butter until incorporated, then add the eggs.

Fold in the bananas.

Then add the buttermilk and vanilla.  

Then after mixing the buttermilk and vanilla in, add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Once the mixture is all together, butter and flour 4 mini loaf pans or two regular loaf pans and cook at 325 degrees for 50 minutes.  Make sure to check that it is not over or under cooking and keep an eye on if it starts to burn.  This is done when a knife comes out clean from the center.    Tonight, I decided to make four mini loaves!  Delicious!

And when it is done, you have delicious banana bread!  Can be used as a breakfast or snack!  Enjoy!!

I hope you enjoy making and eating this sweet bread as much as I did!  

Ingredients:

3 1/2 large extra ripe bananas
1 tsp lemon juice
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking bowder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
8 tbsp (1 stick) butter, softened to room temperature
2 eggs (room temperature)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Grease and flour two loaf pans.
3.  In a medium size bowl, mash bananas until creamy and stir in lemon juice.  Set aside.
4. In another medium size bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  Set aside.
5.  In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar and white sugar.
6. Beat in the eggs until well combined.
7. Fold in the bananas.
8.  Add the vanilla extract and the buttermilk and stir to combine.
9.  Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  Do not over stir but just gently incorporate.
10.  Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pans and cook in the oven for about 50 minutes.  Make sure a knife inserted comes out clean. 
11.  Cool for 5 minutes and then enjoy!

Hope you love this banana bread recipe as much as I do! Enjoy!