The best banana bread

Preheat oven to 350°

Ingredients:

                   

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups mashed overripe bananas

Directions:

Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.               

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.               

Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.               

* Optional Delicious Crumb Topping

 

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup cold butter

 

Prepare the crumb topping by combining the flour, brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Spoon the crumb mixture over the batter before baking.