by Maddie Roberts

Ever since quarantine hit in March 2020, my mom and I have been working on our cooking and baking skills. It was the one thing that kept us sane while being locked up in the house together, besides our daily walks. Cooking and baking became some of our favorite activities to share, and I carried them into my life at college. One of our most baked recipes is for an easy, yet scrumptious banana bread. It has been a hit for both my family and my college roommates. 

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients and Materials

For this recipe, you will need:

• 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour 
• ⅔ cup sugar 
• 2 teaspoons baking powder 
• ½ teaspoon baking soda 
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2-3 mashed ripe bananas 
• ⅓ cup shortening, butter or margarine 
• 2 tablespoons of milk of choice (we use almond milk)
• 2 medium sized eggs 
• Optional ¼ cup chopped nuts (we use walnuts) 

• Electric mixer 
• Loaf pan 
• Non stick cooking spray 
• Large mixing bowl 
• Rubber spatula or spoon 

Step 2: Prepare Materials 

Preheat the oven to 350℉, then spray the loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

Step 3: Mix Ingredients 

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and 1 cup of flour. Then, add the mashed bananas, shortening/margarine/butter and milk. Mix it up with an electric mixer on a low speed. Once it is blended, mix for about 2 more minutes on high. Then, add in the eggs and the remaining flour and mix with the electric mixer. Stir in the nuts if you are adding them. 

Step 4: Bake 

Pour the batter into the loaf pan. I tend to use a rubber spatula to smooth out the top, so it is even. Then, bake in the oven for 55-60 minutes. This time is an approximation and may change based on how strong your oven is! 

Step 5: Cool and Serve 

Once the bread is done, it should have a crusty golden brown outside and soft inside. You can check for doneness by sticking a toothpick in the thickest part, and if it comes out clean, your bread is done. I use the rubber spatula from earlier to get the loaf out of the pan after about 5 minutes of cooling. I let it cool for another 5 minutes or so on a cutting board or cooling rack. Then, you can slice your bread and serve.

This banana bread is such a simple and delicious recipe to make. It is perfect for a great breakfast on the way to class, snack during the day or a warm dessert. It can easily be warmed up in the microwave too. I hope you enjoy this banana bread recipe as much as my mom and I do!