Ultimate Banana Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 large bananas (very ripe)
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup light-brown sugar (packed)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup walnuts (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 adjust rack to middle. spray loaf pan with non-stick spray.
• 3 whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl.
• 4 place five bananas in a extra large glass or other microwave safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with a paring knife. (note: use the biggest bowl you have the first time i did this the juice went all over my microwave, even though i had plastic wrap on my bowl.) microwave on high until the bananas are soft and have released liquid, just about 5 minutes *may be less depending on your microwave wattage*. transfer bananas to a fine mesh drainer placed over a medium pot and allow to drain stirring and mashing the bananas occassionally, 15 minutes (you should end up with around 1/2 to 3/4 cup of liquid).
• 5 cook the liquid in the pot over medium-high heat till reduced to about 1/4 cup, takes about 5 minutes. remove the pot from heat , stir reduced liquid into the bananas and mash with a potato masher until fairly smooth. whisk in the eggs and butter, brown sugar and vanilla.
• 6 pour the banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. you don't want to "over-mix" or it will make it tough. gently fold in walnuts (optional).
• 7 scrape batter into prepared pan. slice remaining banana onto top (like shingles on a roof) layered leaving a 1 1/2 inch space in the very middle. sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.
• 8 bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 60 minutes.