Description
A simple and moist banana bread recipe using just one ripe banana. This quick bread combines the natural sweetness of banana with a blend of granulated and brown sugars, enhanced by vanilla extract and olive oil, and a satisfying crunch from chopped walnuts. Perfect for a small batch treat, baked either as muffins, mini loaves, or baked donuts.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Dry Ingredients
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mash the ripe banana thoroughly. Stir in the egg, vanilla extract, and olive oil until the mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Add dry ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt all at once into the wet mixture. Fold the ingredients gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Incorporate walnuts: Stir in the chopped walnuts evenly throughout the batter to distribute the crunch.
- Prepare baking vessels: Grease your baking pans with oil or line them with parchment paper. This could be regular muffin tins, mini loaf pans, or a baked donut pan depending on your preference.
- Bake: For regular-sized muffins or baked donut pans, spoon the batter to yield six portions. Bake at 325°F (163°C) for 14-15 minutes. For mini loaf pans, this recipe yields three loaves and should be baked at 325°F (163°C) for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Notes
- Use a ripe banana with plenty of brown spots for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread tender.
- Olive oil can be substituted with other neutral oils like canola or vegetable oil if preferred.
- Customize by adding chocolate chips or substituting walnuts with pecans or almonds.
- Check baked goods a few minutes before the minimum time as ovens vary.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 regular muffin (approx. 70g)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg
