Stop what you are doing – you need to make this banana bread ASAP. 

Growing up I loved whenever my mom decided to make banana bread. Whenever our bananas were overripe, they would be thrown in the fridge for a few days and brought out with some loaf tins for one of the best desserts around. While they were easy to share, my brother and I would always fight over the last piece.  

I will die on the hill that banana bread is the ultimate desert, and you can modify the ingredients if you have allergies. I am a big advocate of the muffin shape for ease of access and ease of sharing with friends, but it can also be made in a simple loaf. 

This is my mom’s special recipe and I am happy to share it with all of you. You can tell it was a family favorite because it is written in faded handwriting on a recipe card after repeatedly pulling it out for another tin. 

This recipe is incredibly cheap to make and the only real expensive item is the vanilla extract, though I would not recommend skipping it. The whole process does not take a long time and can even be done in the dorm kitchens for new freshmen wanting some sweets. 

A stand mixer makes the dough-making process a lot quicker but it is not necessary. You can pick up a hand mixer from one of your local thrift stores for cheap and the result is some delicious banana bread.

A tool that will go a long way is a sifter, and cheap ones can be found almost anywhere. And I beg you please do not add nuts to your banana bread. 

You are now ready to embark on the banana bread odyssey, a desert that is moist and succulent enough to make all your friends jealous.  

Hope you enjoy it!

INGREDIENTS 

1/2 cup of shortening or butter

1 1/2 cups of sugar

2 eggs

2 cups of flour 

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3-4 mashed, overripe bananas 

1/2 cup of buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Creaming the Butter and Sugar

1. Add butter and sugar into a bowl
2. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to mix ingredients until incorporated 
3. Add two eggs and beat until it is fluffy

Final mixing

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder and baking soda
2. Mix it all together until thoroughly incorporated
3. Add the rest of the ingredients and continue to mix until mostly smooth 
4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for one hour or until nothing comes off a toothpick

If you recreate this recipe or any other recipe, use the hashtag #cookingwithcarson.