{Awesome} Banana Bread

Finally, (I know, it took forever) here is my {awesome} banana bread recipe. Complete with walnuts AND dark chocolate chips. Those of you that know me (like in person) know that this is my trademark yummiest bread recipe.

So here's what you need:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour {sift before measuring}

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 mashed RIPE, {see photo below} medium bananas

1/3 cup margarine

2 tablespoons milk

2 eggs

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional of course)

1/4 {give or take} cup dark chocolate; to make it more of a dessert bread {I actually prefer it without the chocolate but the hubby LOVES it so I make it that way because I LOVE him}

Now let me first say that the key is to SIFT. Sift as if your life depended on it. And if you don't have a sifter... buy one! Not only do you need to sift the individual cups of flour BEFORE you measure them, but you also need to sift the flour a second time along with the dry ingredients. 

So now that you're in on my little secret and sift is your new favorite word... on to the instructions:

Combine 1 cup sifted flour and all dry ingredients using a sifter.

Add mashed banana, margarine and milk.

Beat with electric mixer until blended.

Add eggs and remaining sifted flour and beat until blended.

Stir in nuts and chocolate.

Pour batter in a greased and floured loaf pan(s); note: Use margarine to grease the pan then tap flour evening around the pan removing all excess.

Bake in the center of a 350 degree F oven for 55-60 minutes. For this batch I used mini loaf pans and baked them for about 35 minutes at the same temperature.

How you know it's done?

1. the top cracks {and}

2. a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

So there you have it. The awesomest banana bread ever! If you decide to bake some for yourself please let me know how you like {love} it and if you made any changes to the recipe how did it turn out?

{these bananas are in a much better place now}

xoxo