The Best Banana Bread

• servings: 8 servings
• active time: 15 minutes
• total time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup mashed very ripe bananas

½ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions

Preheat oven, prepare pan, and cream butter and sugar:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs:

Add eggs and beat to incorporate.

Whisk dry ingredients and add to butter mixture:

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.

Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla:

Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine.

Add nuts and transfer to prepared pan:

Stir in nuts and pour into prepared pan.

Bake:

Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Cool:

Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.