Easy Banana Bread

I found this fantastic and super simple recipe in my trusty, Best of Cooking Light cookbook. (Where else, right?) This banana bread is so quick and simple to mix together, it takes mere minutes!

Here's the recipe (The italicized portions are my changes and findings after making this recipe quite a few times.):
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas) (however, I found that using 3 bananas makes the bread moister!)
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg white
- 1 large egg
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 tsps cream of tartar
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- cooking spray

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350
Step 2: Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large bowl, beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth
Step 3: Lightly spoon the flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. (Honestly, I just scoop the flour with the measuring cup and level it with a spoon. I don't know if lightly spooning it makes a difference or not...it is slightly messier.) Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, stirring with a whisk.
Step 4: Add flour mixture to the banana mixture, stirring just until moist.
Step 5: Spoon batter into an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. (Again, I don't spoon it in, I just pour it from the bowl and scrape it clean with the spatula.)
Step 6: Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. (My oven, and my mom's, took at least 45 minutes...if not longer, sometimes closer to 50 minutes. And, when the pick - I use a metal one - is inserted straight done in the center, it will come out clean at 40 minutes. However, if you insert it in at an angle near the top of the loaf, you will see that it is not done and kind of gooey.)
Step 7: Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. (Another lesson I learned - WAIT THE 10 MINUTES!!!! I did not one time and the bottom of the loaf stayed in the pan. So, my advice is WAIT THE 10 MINUTES!)

Here's what it looks like:

Did I enjoy it? I love this recipe! The bread is so yummy and moist. My kids love it. My husband love it. I love it (with some cream cheese on top!).


Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Make it, you will not regret it. Also, this is a great recipe to have the kids help with...let them mash up the bananas with a potato masher. It is great fun!


I have also done a variation on this recipe...adding about a 1/2 bag of chocolate chips to it. YUM!

Will I make it again?  Yes, I will!!!

If you make it, or if you have had it, let me know what you think!