Ultimate Banana Bread

Name: Ultimate Banana Bread
Yield: Serves 10 (Makes one 9-inch loaf)
Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces), unbleached all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon, baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon, table salt; 6 large, very ripe bananas (about 2 1/4 pounds), peeled (see note); 8 tablespoons (1 stick), unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly; 2 large, eggs; 3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces), packed light brown sugar; 1 teaspoon, vanilla extract; 1/2 cup, walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional); 2 teaspoons, granulated sugar

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Appears in Cook's Illustrated July/August 2010, America's Test Kitchen TV

Desserts or Baked Goods

Fruit

Quick Breads

Say goodbye to dry, bland banana bread. For a showstopping loaf with a deep golden crust and velvety crumb, use your microwave.

SERVES10 (Makes one 9-inch loaf)

TIME2½ hours

has video

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

We added banana flavor without introducing too much moisture to our banana bread recipe by microwaving the fruit and draining it. We then simmered the banana liquid in a saucepan until it reduced and incorporated it into the batter. We used...

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