Spiced Banana Bread: A Loaf Made to Share

The recipe grew out of my family’s banana-bread tradition. I keep it here as the practical companion to Grandpa’s Banana Bread: Faith, Family & What We Pass Down.

Ingredients

• 3 large overripe bananas
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts, optional
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate chips, optional

Method

1. Heat oven to 350°F / 175°C and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Mash the bananas.
3. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a separate bowl.
4. Cream butter and brown sugar, then beat in eggs one at a time and add vanilla.
5. Mix in the bananas, then gently fold in the dry ingredients.
6. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips if using.
7. Bake about 50–60 minutes, checking the centre for doneness.
8. Cool 10–15 minutes in the pan before moving to a rack.

Optional make-ahead flavour

If you enjoyed the old separate prep pages, you do not need them anymore. For spiced butter, gently melt the 1/2 cup butter over low heat with the cinnamon and nutmeg for about five minutes, then cool it before mixing. If your bananas are already deeply spotted and soft, use them as they are; there is no need to manufacture extra steps.

Make room at the table

If gluten is a concern for someone you are serving, use the dedicated gluten-free loaf and follow the ingredient and food-safety needs of the person you are baking for.