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Moist Banana Bread Recipe that Melts in Your Mouth

Moist Banana Bread Recipe that Melts in Your Mouth

This incredibly moist banana bread recipe uses perfectly ripe bananas and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to create a loaf that literally melts in your mouth. The careful layering technique and balanced ingredients produce a tender, flavorful bread that stays moist for days and gets better as it sits.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional)
  • ¾ cup walnuts, toasted, chopped (optional)
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Equipment

  • 9x5x2½-inch loaf pan
  • mixing bowls
  • electric mixer
  • cooling rack

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9x5x2½-inch glass or metal loaf pan.
  2. Whisk or sift the first 6 ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg) in a medium bowl. If using chocolate chips and walnuts, combine them in a small bowl with 1 tablespoon of flour mixture and toss to coat.
  3. Beat butter in a large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating until well blended. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in mashed bananas, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Beat in flour mixture until just combined.
  4. Spoon ⅓ of batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of nut mixture. Add another ⅓ of batter, then remaining nut mixture. Cover with final ⅓ of batter. Run a knife through batter in zigzag pattern to create marbling.
  5. Bake for about 1 hour 5 minutes (start checking at 55 minutes) until tester inserted in center comes out clean. Turn out onto rack to cool completely.

Notes

Use extremely ripe bananas with brown spots for best flavor and moisture. Room temperature ingredients incorporate better. Don't overmix batter once flour is added. Toast walnuts before chopping for enhanced flavor.