Description
Paula Deen’s banana bread delivers a classic Southern comfort treat with ripe bananas and rich, buttery flavor. Moist crumb and sweet aroma promise a delightful slice you’ll savor with morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ripe bananas (medium, mashed, about 1½ cups)
- 2¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 2 eggs (large)
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat Station: Configure oven to 325°F (160°C) and prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan with flour-infused baking spray for seamless bread release.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl until perfectly integrated, creating a uniform dry foundation.
- Liquid Component Transformation: Puree ripe bananas and blend with melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract, whisking until achieving a smooth, homogeneous liquid mixture.
- Batter Construction: Delicately fold banana mixture into dry ingredients using gentle, minimal strokes to maintain a tender, light bread consistency, avoiding overmixing which toughens texture.
- Pan Preparation: Distribute batter evenly in the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula to ensure professional, consistent appearance and optimal baking performance.
- Baking Process: Position pan in preheated oven and bake for 55-65 minutes, verifying doneness by inserting a wooden skewer that emerges clean from the bread’s center.
- Cooling Protocol: Rest bread in pan for 10 minutes to stabilize structure, then transfer to a wire rack, allowing complete cooling before slicing to preserve intricate crumb texture.
- Storage Strategy: Preserve in an airtight container at room temperature, consuming within 3-4 days to maintain peak flavor and moistness.
Notes
- Banana Ripeness Matters: Use overripe, deeply speckled bananas for maximum natural sweetness and intense banana flavor.
- Mixing Technique Tip: Fold ingredients gently to maintain a soft, tender crumb and prevent developing tough, dense bread.
- Moisture Control: Do not overmix the batter, as this can lead to a dry, compact texture that lacks the signature moistness.
- Storage Strategy: Wrap cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container to preserve moisture and prevent staleness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg