Cinnamon Sugar Banana Bread
This recipe is a true testament to the loveliness of simplicity in cooking. The act of combining ordinary ingredients in a bowl and popping them in the oven to such a delightful end still feels like magic no matter how many times I do it. The banana bread is so pure, but the shower of cinnamon sugar over top before baking create a crust that makes it irresistible. Of course you’ll need to sweep after eating it, but I’m willing to overlook that once I see the joy on my children's faces when I pull it out of the oven. Just the smell of banana bread baking is enough to turn a rough day around and a warm slice with a cold glass of milk is like medicine for a tired soul.
Ingredients:
Makes one 9×5 loaf.
½ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 cup of brown sugar
3 really ripe bananas, peeled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Cinnamon Sugar:
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment and set it aside. I like to cut a rectangle a bit bigger than the pan and then cut slits in all four corners so it will nestle into the pan easily. In a large bowl whisk the melted butter and brown sugar together. until light and frothy. Add the bananas and use the whisk to smash the bananas into chunks and stir into the sugar-butter mixture. Add the vanilla extract and eggs and whisk again. Sift the flour and baking powder over top and use a wooden spoon to stir it together gently. Pour into the parchment lined pan. In a small bowl, mix the cinnamon and sugar together and sprinkle it liberally over the top of the batter. Yes, all of it. Trust me! Bake the bread for about 45 minutes. It should make a nice dome and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean. Let it cool for about 15 minutes before lifting the bread out of the pan. Let it cool for about 15 more minutes before cutting into slices. Enjoy!
