12 Great Recipes to Make This Summer

If you're stuck with a handful of brown, mushy bananas, read on for a super easy banana bread recipe that your kids will love. Red Tricycle's Editorial Director makes this bread quite often because it's moist, flavorful and simple. In fact, she's tried about a dozen recipes and this is by far the best. Read on to find out the only banana bread recipe you'll ever need.

Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon table salt
4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1½ cups)
¼ cup plain yogurt
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1¼ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped coarse (optional)

Method:
1. Adjust a rack to the lower-middle position of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan; set aside.

2. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl; set aside.

3. Mix the mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs (whip eggs together in a separate bowl beforehand), butter, and vanilla together with a wooden spoon in a medium bowl. Using a spatula, lightly fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined and the batter looks thick and chunky. Fold in the walnuts if desired. Scrape the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the surface with the spatula.

4. Bake until the loaf is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

The recipe was originally spotted at America's Test Kitchen.

photo: Sajia Hall via flickr