Banana Bread

Ingredients

all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cup

baking soda

1 tsp

salt

1/2 tsp

bananas very ripe, peeled

6 large

butter unsalted, melted and cooled slightly

8 tbsp

eggs

2 large

brown sugar packed light

3/4 cup

vanilla extract

1 tsp

walnuts toasted, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup

granulated sugar

2 tsp

Method

1. 01Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F. Spray 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. 02Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.
3. 03Place 5 bananas in microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents, and microwave on high until soft and liquid releases, about 5 minutes.5 min
4. 04Transfer bananas to fine-mesh strainer over medium bowl and drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.15 min
5. 05Transfer liquid to medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes.5 min
6. 06Remove pan from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth.
7. 07Whisk in melted butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract.
8. 08Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in walnuts if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
9. 09Slice remaining banana diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Shingle banana slices on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1 1/2-inch-wide space down center. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.
10. 10Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 55 to 75 minutes.65 min
11. 11Cool bread in pan on wire rack 15 minutes.15 min
12. 12Remove loaf from pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.