The Best Banana Bread

I’m not exaggerating when I say I went around five years believing I hated banana bread. It all started when my Mom, who is not an avid baker and despises cooking, tried her efforts at banana bread.

She used this package mix they used to sell next to the bananas. It had instructions listed on the back, and I’m sure it said something along the lines of, “just add eggs, bananas and water for great tasting banana bread in minutes!” While the bag’s marketing skills may have worked for my Mom, the taste did not work for eight year old me. In fact, it backfired because I thought it was so awful I went the next five years ahead denying any slice of banana I was ever offered.

Now sure, my mom could’ve screwed something about the recipe up. Regardless, I went forth into the world a banana bread hater.

Fast forward five years later, one day I was visiting my grandparents who always insistd I have a sweet treat. I decided to brave and tried my grandma’s banana bread with a thick slab of butter. This wasn’t a commonly used term then, but it’s accurate to say now that I was shook. It was rich, and moist, yet dense with a light banana flavor.

After my banana bread flood gates were opened again, I asked my grandma for her recipe and began tweaking with other recipes I found, bit by bit to my ideal taste. I wanted my banana bread to be something, buttery, caramelized, and moist. Maybe a light hint of spice, and definitely a vessel for chocolate chips, nuts, or whatever mix-ins you dream up (if that’s your thing.)

Here’s to hoping you enjoy this one as much as I did! Maybe it’ll even convert you back to liking banana bread again. To me, this shit is bananas (B-A-N-A-N-A-S).