Banana Bread (Cooks Illustrated version)

By marck

From the July/August 2010 issue. It's the "extreme" version and replaces the previous version appearing in 2009 issues.

Ingredients

• 1-3/4 C (8-3/4 oz.) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 6 large very ripe bananas (about 2-1/4 lbs), peeled
• 8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 C packed (5-1/4 oz) light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 C walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional) (but I never put nuts in my banana bread)
• 2 tsp granulated sugar

Details

Servings 1

Preparation

Step 1

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8-1/2 by 4-1/2 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in large bowl.

2. Place 5 bananas in microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife. Microwave on high power until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 5 minutes. Transfer bananas to fine mesh strainer placed over medium bowl and allow to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes (you should have 1/2 to 3/4 cup liquid).

3. Transfer liquid to medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla.

4. Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in walnuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Slice remaining banana diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Shingle banana slices on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1-1/2-inch-wide space down center to ensure even rise. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.

5. Bake until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean, 55 to 75 minutes. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 15 minutes, then remove loaf from pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.