Banana Bread

By Sage B.

Ingredients

• recipe Streusel-Nut topping (optional):
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cup mashed bananas (4 to 5 medium sized ripened bananas)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbs. butter, melted
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of two 9x5x3 inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; set aside.
In a medium bowl combine eggs, mashed bananas, sugar, and butter. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in walnuts (optional). Spoon batter into prepared pans. If desired, sprinkle Streusel-Nut Topping over batter.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire racks. Wrap with plastic wrap and store overnight before slicing. Makes 2 loaves (32 servings).


Streusel-Nut Topping:
In a small bowl combine brown sugar and flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts.