Banana Black Walnut Bread

I like bananas. I also like banana bread or banana nut muffins. But I can't stand banana flavored things or adding a banana to a smoothie.

Like strawberry-banana smoothies? Yuck. I love strawberry smoothies and as I said above, I like bananas. Just please don't put them together. The banana just overpowers it. And banana flavored candies and such are just too sweet.

This banana bread? 

Out of this world. 

Maybe even the universe. It's that good. Brent and I ate the whole thing in less than 48 hours.

The original plan was to make it and take it to his family's Thanksgiving. We were headed up the night before and I thought it would be a great late morning snack while the turkey was cooking.

But the bananas didn't ripen fast enough. Which is the opposite of what happens when I buy them and want to eat them whole. They seem to spoil in like 1.5 days no matter how green they are when they hit my counter.

Anyway, we came back a home a few days later and my bananas were finally perfect for making banana bread.

This banana bread is dense, moist, flavorful and delicious. I don't think I'll ever need another Banana Bread recipe again...well except maybe a "healthier" version. 

I used black walnuts which have a bolder walnut flavor but feel free to use regular or english walnuts, which are more readily available and cheaper. Also, if you'd like the bread to be a bit less sweet, you can reduce the granulated sugar to 3/4 cup instead of a full. 

Black Walnut Banana Bread Recipe

*Makes 1 loaf

(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

-          4 very ripe bananas

-          4 tbls softened butter

-          ¼ cup light brown sugar

-          1 cup granulated sugar*

-          1 tea vanilla extract

-          1 large egg

-          ¼ tea salt

-          ¼ tea baking powder

-          ½ tea baking soda

-          ½ tea cinnamon

-          1 ½ cups flour

-          Heaping ½ cup chopped black walnuts or plain walnuts

• You can reduce the white sugar amount to ¾ a cup if you prefer less sweet bread.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine bananas, butter, light brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla extract and egg. Smash all ingredients together until well combined and bananas are in large chunks.
2. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix to incorporate and then slowly add to wet mixture, Next beat on low with hand mixer to fully combine for about 1 -2 minutes. Stir in walnuts.
3. Pour batter into a greased 9x3 loaf pan and bake in oven for 55-65 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. If loaf is getting too brown on top feel free to lay a loose piece of foil over pan.
4. Allow bread to cool for several minutes before removing from pan and resting on a cooling rack. Bread can be eaten warm or at room temperature. 

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