Mom’s Banana Bread Recipe

With all of the recipes floating out there on the web, how do we know which ones are good? The truth is, I guess we don’t. Sometimes you can gather all the ingredients, follow all the instructions, and it still doesn’t come out well. It’s sooooo disappointing! I’ve been been there multiple times. What a bummer!

When it comes to bread recipes, it can be even tougher. That’s why I turn to my old-school, handwritten, passed down through the generations recipe cards! Yes, I definitely still have a little box in one of my kitchen cupboards that houses these paper gems! I am blessed to have several written in the penmanship of the great cooks in our family…some of whom are no longer with us, too (like my grandma and my husband’s grandma!). I absolutely love them. I absolutely consider my family recipes to be treasures, because to me, they are priceless!

So when I have some overripe bananas, I always pull out my mom’s BANANA BREAD RECIPE. This is the one I grew up with. I have even adapted it to be gluten free to meet my family’s needs. It’s so moist, and not crumbly like most gluten free baked goods.

I invite you try it out the next time your bananas are looking tired…you won’t be sorry! As you’re mixing it up, you could think about the people you love who you might be sharing it with. I like to pray for each member of my family as I’m mixing, and that way, I am mixing my love and joy right into the bread! Sometimes, I even take some to my mom and dad!

I hope your family loves this recipe as much as mine does. Enjoy your time in the kitchen…And maybe invite a helper or two, so they can learn YOUR family recipes. Live with joy today.

Mom’s Banana Bread Recipe (Gluten-y or Gluten Free)

This is a versatile banana bread recipe that works for either a gluten-y or gluten free family!

Notes

To make this recipe gluten free, omit the all purpose flour and substitute 1 3/4 cups Gluten Free Flour, 1 tsp of Potato Starch, and 1-2 tsp ground Flax Seeds

Ingredients

• 2 overripe Bananas, peeled and mashed
• 1/4 cup Applesauce
• Pinch of Salt
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup Butter, Softened
• 1/2 cup Sugar (can reduce to 1/4 cup if desired)
• 2 Eggs
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts (optional)
• 1 3/4 cup All Purpose Flour OR Gluten Free Flour

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F (325F for glass pan).
2. Cream softened Butter and Sugar.
3. Add Eggs, Applesauce, and Vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and beat well.
4. Sift together all dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
5. Mix the creamed mixture and the dry mixture together.
6. Add mashed bananas and incorporate throughout.
7. If adding Walnuts, do so now.
8. Spoon batter into well-greased baking dish/loaf pan (I also like to line mine with parchment paper).
9. Bake for 45 minutes, OR until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. (TAKE CARE NOT TO LEAVE IN TOO LONG, as it dries out quickly)
10. Remove from oven when done, and let cool on cooling rack before removing from pan.

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